TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

Translated from the Sanskrit by Arthur William Ryder

CONTENTS

Introduction

Goblin-story

1. The Prince's Elopement. Whose fault was the resulting death of hisparents-in-law?

2. The Three Lovers who brought the Dead Girl to Life. Whose wifeshould she be?

3. The Parrot and the Thrush. Which are worse, men or women?

4. King Shudraka and Hero's Family. Which of the five deserves themost honour?

5. The Brave Man, the Wise Man, and the Clever Man. To which shouldthe girl be given?

6. The Girl who transposed the Heads of her Husband and Brother. Whichcombination of head and body is her husband?

7. The Mutual Services of King Fierce-lion and Prince Good. Which isthe more deserving?

8. The Specialist in Food, the Specialist in Women, and the Specialistin Cotton. Which is the cleverest?

9. The Four Scientific Suitors. To which should the girl be given?

10. The Three Delicate Wives of King Virtue-banner. Which is the mostdelicate?

11. The King who won a Fairy as his Wife. Why did his counsellor'sheart break?

12. The Brahman who died because Poison from a Snake in the Claws of aHawk fell into a Dish of Food given him by a Charitable Woman. Who isto blame for his death?

13. The Girl who showed Great Devotion to the Thief. Did he weep orlaugh?

14. The Man who changed into a Woman at Will. Was his wife his or theother man's?

15. The Fairy Prince Cloud-chariot and the Serpent Shell-crest. Whichis the more self-sacrificing?

16. The King who died for Love of his General's Wife; the Generalfollows him in Death. Which is the more worthy?

17. The Youth who went through the Proper Ceremonies. Why did he failto win the magic spell?

18. The Boy whom his Parents, the King, and the Giant conspired toKill. Why did he laugh at the moment of death?

19. The Man, his Wife, and her Lover, who all died for Love. Which wasthe most foolish?

20. The Four Brothers who brought a Dead Lion to Life. Which is toblame when he kills them all?

21. The Old Hermit who exchanged his Body for that of the Dead Boy. Whydid he weep and dance?

22. The Father and Son who married Daughter and Mother. What relationwere their children?

Conclusion

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

INTRODUCTION

On the bank of the Godavari River is a kingdom called the AbidingKingdom. There lived the son of King Victory, the famous KingTriple-victory, mighty as the king of the gods. As this king sat injudgment, a monk called Patience brought him every day one piece offruit as an expression of homage. And the king took it and gave it eachday to the treasurer who stood near. Thus twelve years passed. 

Now one day the monk came to court, gave the king a piece of fruit asusual, and went away. But on this day the king gave the fruit to a petbaby monkey that had escaped from his keepers, and happened to wanderin. And as the monkey ate the fruit, he split it open, and a priceless, magnificent gem came out. 

When the king saw this, he took it and asked the treasurer: "Where haveyou been keeping the fruits which the monk brought? I gave them toyou. " When the treasurer heard this, he was frightened and said: "YourMajesty, I have thrown them all through the window. If your Majestydesires, I will look for them now. " And when the king had dismissedhim, he went, but returned in a moment, and said again: "Your Majesty, they were all smashed in the treasury, and in them I see heaps ofdazzling gems. "

When he heard this, the king was delighted, and gave the jewels to thetreasurer. And when the monk came the next day, he asked him: "Monk, why do you keep honouring me in such an expensive way? Unless I knowthe reason, I will not take your fruit. "

Then the monk took the king aside and said: "O hero, there is abusiness in which I need help. So I ask for your help in it, becauseyou are a brave man. " And the king promised his assistance. 

Then the monk was pleased, and said again: "O King, on the last nightof the waning moon, you must go to the great cemetery at nightfall, andcome to me under the fig-tree. " Then the king said "Certainly, " andPatience, the monk, went home well pleased. 

So when the night came, the mighty king remembered his promise to themonk, and at dusk he wrapped his head in a black veil, took his swordin his hand, and went to the great cemetery without being seen. When hegot there, he looked about, and saw the monk standing under thefig-tree and making a magic circle. So he went up and said: "Monk, hereI am. Tell me what I am to do for you. "

And when the monk saw the king, he was delighted and said: "O King, ifyou wish to do me a favour, go south from here some distance all alone, and you will see a sissoo tree and a dead body hanging from it. Be sokind as to bring that here. "

When the brave king heard this, he agreed, and, true to his promise, turned south and started. And as he walked with difficulty along thecemetery road, he came upon the sissoo tree at some distance, and saw abody hanging on it. So he climbed the tree, cut the rope, and let itfall to the ground. And as it fell, it unexpectedly cried aloud, as ifalive. Then the king climbed down, and thinking it was alive, hemercifully rubbed its limbs. Then the body gave a loud laugh. 

So the king knew that a goblin lived in it, and said without fear:"What are you laughing about? Come, let us be off. " But then he did notsee the goblin on the ground any longer. And when he looked up, therehe was, hanging in the tree as before. So the king climbed the treeagain, and carefully carried the body down. A brave man's heart isharder than a diamond, and nothing makes it tremble. 

Then he put the body with the goblin in it on his shoulder, and startedoff in silence. And as he walked along, the goblin in the body said: "OKing, to amuse the journey, I will tell you a story. Listen. "

FIRST GOBLIN

_The Prince's Elopement. Whose fault was the resulting death of hisparents-in-law?_

There is a city called Benares where Shiva lives. It is loved by piouspeople like the soil of Mount Kailasa. The river of heaven shines therelike a pearl necklace. And in the city lived a king called Valour whoburned up all his enemies by his valour, as a fire burns a forest. Hehad a son named Thunderbolt who broke the pride of the love-god by hisbeauty, and the pride of men by his bravery. This prince had a cleverfriend, the son of a counsellor. 

One day the prince was enjoying himself with his friend hunting, andwent a long distance. And so he came to a great forest. There he saw abeautiful lake, and being tired, he drank from it with his friend thecounsellor's son, washed his hands and feet, and sat down under a treeon the bank. 

And then he saw a beautiful maiden who had come there with her servantsto bathe. She seemed to fill the lake with the stream of her beauty, and seemed to make lilies grow there with her eyes, and seemed to shamethe lotuses with a face more lovely than the moon. She captured theprince's heart the moment that he saw her. And the prince took her eyescaptive. 

The girl had a strange feeling when she saw him, but was too modest tosay a word. So she gave a hint of the feeling in her heart. She put alotus on her ear, laid a lily on her head after she had made the edgelook like a row of teeth, and placed her hand on her heart. But theprince did not understand her signs, only the clever counsellor's sonunderstood them all. 

A moment later the girl went away, led by her servants. She went homeand sat on the sofa and stayed there. But her thoughts were with theprince. 

The prince went slowly back to his city, and was terribly lonelywithout her, and grew thinner every day. Then his friend the son of thecounsellor took him aside and told him that she was not hard to find. But he had lost all courage and said: "My friend, I don't know hername, nor her home, nor her family. How can I find her? Why do youvainly try to comfort me?"

Then the counsellor's son said: "Did you not see all that she hintedwith her signs? When she put the lotus on her ear, she meant that shelived in the kingdom of a king named Ear-lotus. And when she made therow of teeth, she meant that she was the daughter of a man named Bitethere. And when she laid the lily on her head, she meant that her namewas Lily. And when she placed her hand on her heart, she meant that sheloved you. And there is a king named Ear-lotus in the Kalinga country. There is a very rich man there whom the king likes. His real name isBattler, but they call him Bite. He has a pearl of a girl whom he lovesmore than his life, and her name is Lily. This is true, because peopletold me. So I understood her signs about her country and the otherthings. " When the counsellor's son had said this, the prince wasdelighted to find him so clever, and pleased because he knew what to do. 

Then he formed a plan with the counsellor's son, and started for thelake again, pretending that he was going to hunt, but really to findthe girl that he loved. On the way he rode like the wind away from hissoldiers, and started for the Kalinga country with the counsellor's son. 

When they reached the city of King Ear-lotus, they looked about andfound the house of the man called Bite, and they went to a house nearby to live with an old woman. And the counsellor's son said to the oldwoman: "Old woman, do you know anybody named Bite in this city?"

Then the old woman answered him respectfully: "My son, I know him well. I was his nurse. And I am a servant of his daughter Lily. But I do notgo there now because my dress is stolen. My naughty son is a gamblerand steals my clothes. "

Then the counsellor's son was pleased and satisfied her with his owncloak and other presents. And he said: "Mother, you must do verysecretly what we tell you. Go to Bite's daughter Lily, and tell herthat the prince whom she saw on the bank of the lake is here, and sentyou with a love-message to her. "

The old woman was pleased with the gifts and went to Lily at once. Andwhen she got a chance, she said: "My child, the prince and thecounsellor's son have come to take you. Tell me what to do now. " Butthe girl scolded her and struck her cheeks with both hands smeared withcamphor. 

The old woman was hurt by this treatment, and came home weeping, andsaid to the two men: "My sons, see how she left the marks of herfingers on my face. "

And the prince was hopeless and sad, but the very clever counsellor'sson took him aside and said, "My friend, do not be sad. She was onlykeeping the secret when she scolded the old woman, and put ten fingerswhite with camphor on her face. She meant that you must wait beforeseeing her, for the next ten nights are bright with moonlight. "

So the counsellor's son comforted the prince, took a little goldornament and sold it in the market, and bought a great dinner for theold woman. So they two took dinner with the old woman. They did thisfor ten days, and then the counsellor's son sent her to Lily again, tofind out something more. 

And the old woman was eager for dainty food and drink. So to please himshe went to Lily's house, and then came back and said: "My children, Iwent there and stayed with her for some time without speaking. But shespoke herself of my naughtiness in mentioning you, and struck me againon the chest with three fingers stained red. So I came back indisgrace. "

Then the counsellor's son whispered to the prince: "Don't be alarmed, my friend. When she left the marks of three red fingers on the oldwoman's heart, she meant to say very cleverly that there were threedangerous days coming. " So the counsellor's son comforted the prince. 

And when three days were gone, he sent the old woman to Lily again. Andthis time she went and was very respectfully entertained, and treatedto wine and other things the whole day. But when she was ready to goback in the evening, a terrible shouting was heard outside. They heardpeople running and crying: "Oh, oh! A mad elephant has escaped from hisstable and is running around and stamping on people. "

Then Lily said to the old woman: "Mother, you must not go through thestreet now where the elephant is. I will put you in a swing and let youdown with ropes through this great window into the garden. Then you canclimb into a tree and jump on the wall, and go home by way of anothertree. " So she had her servants let the old woman down from the windowinto the garden by a rope-swing. And the old woman went home and toldthe prince and the counsellor's son all about it. 

Then the counsellor's son said to the prince: "My friend, your wishesare fulfilled. She has been clever enough to show you the road. So youmust follow that same road this very evening to the room of yourdarling. "

So the prince went to the garden with the counsellor's son by the roadthat the old woman had shown them. And there he saw the rope-swinghanging down, and servants above keeping an eye on the road. And whenhe got into the swing, the servants at the window pulled at the ropeand he came to his darling. And when he had gone in, the counsellor'sson went back to the old woman's house. 

But the prince saw Lily, and her face was beautiful like the full moon, and the moonlight of her beauty shone forth, like the night when themoon shines in secret because of the dark. And when she saw him, shethrew her arms around his neck and kissed him. So he married her andstayed hidden with her for some days. 

One day he said to his wife: "My dear, my friend the counsellor's soncame with me, and he is staying all alone at the old woman's house. Imust go and see him, then I will come back. "

But Lily was shrewd and said: "My dear, I must ask you something. Didyou understand the signs I made, or was it the counsellor's son?" Andthe prince said to her: "My dear, I did not understand them all, but myfriend has wonderful wisdom. He understood everything and told me. "Then the sweet girl thought, and said: "My dear, you did wrong not totell me before. Your friend is a real brother to me. I ought to havesent him some nuts and other nice things at the very first. "

Then she let him go, and he went to his friend by night by the sameroad, and told all that his wife had said. But the counsellor's sonsaid: "That is foolish, " and did not think much of it. So they spentthe night talking. 

Then when the time for the twilight sacrifice came, a friend of Lily'scame there with cooked rice and nuts in her hand. She came and askedthe counsellor's son about his health and gave him the present. And shecleverly tried to keep the prince from eating. "Your wife is expectingyou to dinner, " she said, and a moment later she went away. 

Then the counsellor's son said to the prince: "Look, your Majesty. Iwill show you something curious. " So he took a little of the cookedrice and gave it to a dog that was there. And the moment he ate it, thedog died. And the prince asked the counsellor's son what this strangething could mean. 

And he replied: "Your Majesty, she knew that I was clever because Iunderstood her signs, and she wanted to kill me out of love for you. For she thought the prince would not be all her own while I was alive, but would leave her for my sake and go back to his own city. So shesent me poisoned food to eat. But you must not be angry with her. Iwill think up some scheme. "

Then the prince praised the counsellor's son, and said: "You are trulythe body of wisdom. " And then suddenly a great wailing ofgrief-stricken people was heard: "Alas! Alas! The king's little son isdead. "

When he heard this, the counsellor's son was delighted, and said: "YourMajesty, go to-night to Lily's house, and make her drink wine until sheloses her senses and seems to be dead. Then as she lies there, make amark on her hip with a red-hot fork, steal her jewels, and come backthe old way through the window. After that I will do the right thing. "

Then he made a three-pronged fork and gave it to the prince. And theprince took the crooked, cruel thing, hard as the weapon of Death, andwent by night as before to Lily's house. "A king, " he thought, "oughtnot to disregard the words of a high-minded counsellor. " So when he hadstupefied her with wine, he branded her hip with the fork, stole herjewels, returned to his friend, and told him everything, showing himthe jewels. 

Then the counsellor's son felt sure his scheme was successful. He wentto the cemetery in the morning, and disguised himself as a hermit, andthe prince as his pupil. And he said: "Take this pearl necklace fromamong the jewels. Go and sell it in the market-place. And if thepolicemen arrest you, say this: It was given to me to sell by myteacher. '"

So the prince went to the market-place and stood there offering thepearl necklace for sale, and he was arrested while doing it by thepolicemen. And as they were eager to find out about the theft of thejewels from Bite's daughter, they took the prince at once to the chiefof police. And when he saw that the culprit was dressed like a hermit, he asked him very gently: "Holy sir, where did you get this pearlnecklace? It belongs to Bite's daughter and was stolen. " Then theprince said to them: "Gentlemen, my teacher gave it to me to sell. Youhad better go and ask him. "

Then the chief of police went and asked him: "Holy sir, how did thispearl necklace come into your pupil's hand?"

And the shrewd counsellor's son whispered to him: "Sir, as I am ahermit, I wander about all the time in this region. And as I happenedto be here in this cemetery, I saw a whole company of witches who camehere at night. And one of the witches split open the heart of a king'sson, and offered it to her master. She was mad with wine, and screwedup her face most horribly. But when she impudently tried to snatch myrosary as I prayed, I became angry, and branded her on the hip with athree-pronged fork which I had made red-hot with a magic spell. And Itook this pearl necklace from her neck. Then, as it was not a thing fora hermit, I sent it to be sold. "

When he heard this, the chief of police went and told the whole storyto the king. And when the king heard and saw the evidence, he sent theold woman, who was reliable, to identify the pearl necklace. And heheard from her that Lily was branded on the hip. 

Then he was convinced that she was really a witch and had devoured hisson. So he went himself to the counsellor's son, who was disguised as ahermit, and asked how Lily should be punished. And by his advice, shewas banished from the city, though her parents wept. So she wasbanished naked to the forest and knew that the counsellor's son haddone it all, but she did not die. 

And at nightfall the prince and the counsellor's son put off theirhermit disguise, mounted on horseback, and found her weeping. They puther on a horse and took her to their own country. And when they gotthere, the prince lived most happily with her. 

But Bite thought that his daughter was eaten by wild beasts in thewood, and he died of grief. And his wife died with him. 

When he had told this story, the goblin asked the king: "O King, whowas to blame for the death of the parents: the prince, or thecounsellor's son, or Lily? You seem like a very wise man, so resolve mydoubts on this point. If you know and do not tell me the truth, thenyour head will surely fly into a hundred pieces. And if you give a goodanswer, then I will jump from your shoulder and go back to the sissootree. "

Then King Triple-victory said to the goblin: "You are a master ofmagic. You surely know yourself, but I will tell you. It was not thefault of any of the three you mentioned. It was entirely the fault ofKing Ear-lotus. "

But the goblin said: "How could it be the king's fault? The other threedid it. Are the crows to blame when the geese eat up the rice?"

Then the king said: "But those three are not to blame. It was right forthe counsellor's son to do his master's business. So he is not toblame. And Lily and the prince were madly in love and could not stop tothink. They only looked after their own affairs. They are not to blame. 

"But the king knew the law-books very well, and he had spies to findout the facts among the people. And he knew about the doings ofrascals. So he acted without thinking. He is to blame. "

When the goblin heard this, he wanted to test the king's constancy. Sohe went back by magic in a moment to the sissoo tree. And the king wentback fearlessly to get him. 

SECOND GOBLIN

_The Three Lovers who brought the Dead Girl to Life. Whose wife shouldshe be?_

Then King Triple-victory went back under the sissoo tree to fetch thegoblin. And when he got there and looked about, he saw the goblinfallen on the ground and moaning. Then, when the king put the body withthe goblin in it on his shoulder and started to carry him off quicklyand silently, the goblin on his shoulder said to him: "Oh King, youhave fallen into a very disagreeable task which you do not deserve. Soto amuse you I will tell another story. Listen. "

On the bank of Kalindi River is a farm where a very learned Brahmanlived. And he had a very beautiful daughter named Coral. When theCreator fashioned her fresh and peerless loveliness, surely he musthave despised the cleverness he showed before in fashioning the nymphsof heaven. 

When she had grown out of childhood, there came from the city of Kanaujthree Brahman youths, endowed with all the virtues. And each of themasked her father for her, that she might be his own. And though herfather would rather have died than give her up to anyone, he made uphis mind to give her to one of them. But the girl would not marry anyone of them for some time, because she was afraid of hurting thefeelings of the other two. So they stayed there all three of them dayand night, feasting on the beauty of her face, like the birds that liveon moonbeams. 

Then all at once Coral fell sick of a burning fever and died. And whenthe Brahman youths saw that she was dead, they were smitten with grief. But they adorned her body, took it to the cemetery, and burned it. 

And one of them built a hut there, slept on a bed made of her ashes, and got his food by begging. The second took her bones and went to dipthem in the sacred Ganges river. And the third became a monk andwandered in other countries. 

And as he wandered, the monk came to a village called Thunderbolt, andwas entertained in the house of a Brahman. But when he had beenhonoured by the master of the house and had begun to eat dinner there, the little boy began to cry and would not stop even when they pettedhim. So his mother took him on her arm, and angrily threw him into theblazing fire. And being tender, he was reduced to ashes in a moment. 

When the monk saw this, his hair stood on end, and he said: "Alas! Ihave come into the house of a devil. I will not eat this food. It wouldbe like eating sin. " But the master of the house said to him: "Brahman, I have studied to good purpose. See my skill in bringing the dead tolife. " So he opened a book, took out a magic spell, read it, andsprinkled water on the ashes. And the moment the water was sprinkled, the boy stood up alive just as before. Then the monk was highlydelighted and finished his dinner with pleasure. 

And the master of the house hung the book on an ivory peg, took dinnerwith the monk, and went to bed. When he was asleep, the monk got upquietly, and tremblingly took the book, hoping to bring his darlingCoral back to life. He went away and travelled night and day, until hefinally reached the cemetery. And he caught sight of the second youth, who had come back after dipping the bones in the Ganges. And he alsofound the third youth, who had made a hut and lived there, sleeping onthe girl's ashes. 

Then the monk cried: "Brother, leave your hut. I will bring the deargirl back to life. " And while they eagerly questioned him, he openedthe book, and read the magic spell, and sprinkled holy water on theashes. And Coral immediately stood up, alive. And the girl was morebeautiful than ever. She looked as if she were made of gold. 

When the three youths saw her come back to life like that, they wentmad with love, and fought with one another to possess her. 

One said: "I brought her to life by my magic spell. She is my wife. "

The second said: "She came to life because of my journey to the sacredriver. She is my wife. "

The third said: "I kept her ashes. That is why she came to life. She ismy dear wife. "

O King, you are able to decide their dispute. Tell me. Whose wifeshould she be? If you know and say what is false, then your head willsplit. 

When the king heard this, he said to the goblin: "The man who painfullyfound the magic spell and brought her back to life, he did only what afather ought to do. He is not her husband. And the man who went to dipher bones in the sacred river, he did only what a son ought to do. Heis not her husband. But the man who slept with her ashes and lived ahard life in the cemetery, he did what a lover ought to do. He deservesto be her husband. "

When the goblin heard this answer of King Triple-victory, he suddenlyescaped from his shoulder and went back. And the king wished to do asthe monk had asked him; so he decided to go back and get him. Great-minded people do not waver until they have kept their promises, even at the cost of life. 

THIRD GOBLIN

_The Parrot and the Thrush. Which are worse, men or women?_

Then the king went back to the sissoo tree to fetch the goblin. When hegot there, he took the body with the goblin in it on his shoulder, andstarted off in silence. And as he walked along, the goblin said to himagain: "O King, you must be very tired, coming and going in the night. So to amuse you I will tell another story. Listen. "

There is a city called Patna, the gem of the earth. And long ago a kinglived there whose name was Lion-of-Victory. Fate had made him the ownerof all virtues and all wealth. And he had a parrot calledJewel-of-Wisdom, that had divine intelligence and knew all thesciences, but lived as a parrot because of a curse. 

This king had a son called Moon, and by the advice of the parrot thisprince married the daughter of the king of the Magadha country; and hername was Moonlight. Now this princess had a thrush named Moony, who waslike the parrot, because she had learning and intelligence. And theparrot and the thrush lived in one cage in the palace. 

One day the parrot eagerly said to the thrush: "My darling, love me, and share my bed and my chair and my food and my amusements. "

But the thrush said: "I will have nothing to do with men. Men are badand ungrateful. "

Then the parrot said: "Men are not bad. It is only women who are badand cruel-hearted. " And they quarrelled. 

Then the two birds wagered their freedom with each other and went tothe prince to have their quarrel decided. And the prince mounted hisfather's judgment throne, and when he had heard the cause of thequarrel, he asked the thrush: "How are men ungrateful? Tell the truth. "Then she said, "Listen, O Prince, " and to prove her point she startedto tell this story illustrating the faults of men. 

There is a famous city called Kamandaki, where a wealthy merchant livednamed Fortune. And in time a son was born to him and named Treasure. Then when the father went to heaven, the young man became very unrulybecause of gambling and other vices. And the rascals came together, andruined him. Association with scoundrels is the root from which springsthe tree of calamity. 

So in no long time he lost all he had through his vices, and beingashamed of his poverty, he left his own country and went to wander inother places. And during his travels he came to a city called SandalCity, and entered the house of a merchant, seeking something to eat. When the merchant saw the youth, he asked him about his family, andfinding that he was a gentleman, he entertained him. And thinking thatGate had sent the young man, he gave him his own daughter Pearl, together with some money. And when Treasure was married, he lived inhis father-in-law's house. 

As time passed, he forgot his former miseries in the comforts of hislife, and longed for the old vices, and wanted to go home. So therascal managed to persuade his father-in-law, who had no otherchildren, took his wife Pearl with her beautiful ornaments, and an oldwoman, and started for his own country. Presently he came to a woodwhere he said he was afraid of thieves, so he took all his wife'sornaments. Perceive, O Prince, how cruel and hard are the ungratefulhearts of those who indulge in gambling and other vices. And thescoundrel was ready, just for money, to kill his good wife. He threwher and the old woman into a pit. Then the rascal went away and the oldwoman perished there. 

But Pearl, with the little life she had left, managed to get out byclinging to the grass and bushes, and weeping bitterly, and bleeding, she asked the way step by step, and painfully reached her father'shouse by the way she had come. And her mother and father were surprisedand asked her: "Why did you come back so soon, and in this condition?"

And that good wife said: "On the road we were robbed, and my husbandwas forcibly carried off. And the old woman fell into a pit and died, but I escaped. And a kind-hearted traveller pulled me from the pit. "Then her father and mother were saddened, but they comforted her, andPearl stayed there, true to her husband. 

Then in time Treasure lost all his money in gambling, and he reflected:"I will get more money from the house of my father-in-law. I will gothere and tell my father-in-law that his daughter is well and is at myhouse. "

So he went again to his father-in-law. And as he went, hisever-faithful wife saw him afar off. She ran and fell at the rascal'sfeet and told him all the story that she had invented for her parents. For the heart of a faithful wife does not change even when she learnsthat her husband is a rogue. 

Then that rascal went without fear into the house of his father-in-lawand bowed low before his feet. And his father-in-law rejoiced when hesaw him and made a great feast with his relatives, for he said: "My sonis delivered alive from the robbers. Heaven be praised!" Then Treasureenjoyed the wealth of his father-in-law and lived with his wife Pearl. 

Now one night this worst of scoundrels did what I ought not to repeat, but I will tell it, or my story would be spoiled. Listen, O Prince. While Pearl lay asleep trusting him, that wretch killed her in thenight, stole all her jewels, and escaped to his own country. This showshow bad and ungrateful men are. 

When the thrush had told her story, the prince smiled and said to theparrot: "It is your turn now. "

Then the parrot said: "Your Majesty, women are cruel and reckless andbad. To prove it, I will tell you a story. Listen. "

There is a city called Joyful, where lived a prince of merchants namedVirtue, who owned millions of money. He had a daughter named Fortune, peerless in beauty, dearer to him than life. And she was given inmarriage to a merchant's son from Copper City, whose name was Ocean. Hewas her equal in wealth, beauty, and family; a delight to the eyes ofmen. 

One day when her husband was away from home, she saw from the window ahandsome young man. And the moment she saw him, the fickle girl wentmad with love, and secretly sent a messenger to invite him in, and madelove to him in secret. Thus her heart was fixed on him alone, and shewas happy with him. 

But at last her husband came home and delighted the hearts of hisparents-in-law. And when the day had been spent in feasting, Fortunewas adorned by her mother, and sent to her husband's room. But she wascold toward him and pretended to sleep. And her husband went to sleep, too, for he was weary with his journey, and had been drinking wine. 

When everyone in the house had gone to sleep after their dinner, athief made a hole in the wall and came into that very room. And justthen the merchant's daughter got up without seeing him, and went outsecretly to a meeting with her lover. And the thief was disappointed, and thought: "She has gone out into the night wearing the very jewelsthat I came to steal. I must see where she goes. " So the thief went outand followed her. 

But she met a woman friend who had flowers in her hand, and went to apark not very far away. And there she saw the man whom she came to meethanging on a tree. For the policeman had thought he was a thief, hadput a rope around his neck and hanged him. 

And at the sight she went distracted, and lamented pitifully: "Oh, oh!I am undone, " and fell on the ground and wept. Then she took her loverdown from the tree and made him sit up, though he was dead, and adornedhim with perfumes and jewels and flowers. 

But when in her love-madness she lifted his face and kissed him, agoblin who had come to live in her dead lover, bit off her nose. Andshe was startled and ran in pain from the spot. But then she came backto see if perhaps he was alive after all. But the goblin had gone, andshe saw that he was motionless and dead. So she slowly went back home, frightened and disgraced and weeping. 

And the concealed thief saw it all and thought: "What has the wickedwoman done? Alas! Can women be so dreadful as this? What might she notdo next?" So out of curiosity the thief still followed her from afar. 

And the wretched woman entered the house and cried aloud, and said:"Save me from my cruel enemy, my own husband. He cut off my nose and Ihad done nothing. " And her servants heard her cries and all arose inexcitement. Her husband too awoke. Then her father came and saw thather nose was cut off, and in his anger he had his son-in-law arrested. 

And the poor man did not know what to do. Even when he was being bound, he remained silent and said nothing. Then they all woke up and heardthe story, but the thief who knew the whole truth, ran away. And whenday came, the merchant's son was haled before the king by hisfather-in-law. And Fortune went there without her nose, and the kingheard the whole story and condemned the merchant's son to death formistreating his wife. 

So the innocent, bewildered man was led to the place of execution andthe drums were beaten. Just then the thief came up and said to theking's men: "Why do you kill this man without any good reason? I knowhow the whole thing happened. Take me to the king, and I will tell all. "

So all the king's men took him to the king. And the thief told the kingall the adventures of the night, and said: "Your Majesty, if you cannottrust my word, you may find the nose at this moment between the teethof the dead body. "

Then the king sent men to investigate, and when he found it was true, he released the merchant's son from the punishment of death. As forwretched Fortune, he cut off her ears, too, and banished her from thecountry. And he took from her father, the merchant, all his money, andmade the thief the chief of police. He was pleased with him. 

O Prince, this shows how cruel and false women are by nature. 

As he spoke these words, the parrot changed into a god, for the cursewas fulfilled, and went to heaven like a god. And the thrush suddenlybecame a goddess, for her curse was at an end, and flew up likewise toheaven. So their dispute was never settled at that court. 

When the goblin had told this story, he asked the king: "O King, tellme. Are men bad, or women? If you know and do not tell, your head willfly to pieces. " And when the king heard these words of the goblin onhis shoulder, he said to that magic goblin: "O goblin! Here and there, now and then, there is an occasional bad man like that. But women areusually bad. We hear about many of them. "

Then the goblin disappeared from the king's shoulder as before. And theking tried again to catch him. 

FOURTH GOBLIN

_King Shudraka and Hero's Family. Which of the five deserves the mosthonour?_

Then King Triple-victory went back under the sissoo tree and caught thegoblin, who gave a horse-laugh. But the king without fear put him onhis shoulder as before and started toward the monk. And as he walkedalong, the goblin on his shoulder said to him again: "O King, why doyou take such pains for that wretched monk? Have you no sense aboutthis fruitless task? Well, after all, I like your devotion. So, toamuse the weary journey, I will tell you another story. Listen. "

There is a city called Beautiful, and it deserves the name. There liveda king named Shudraka, of tremendous power and mighty courage. He wasso used to victory that the fire of his courage was kept blazing by thewind from the fans in the hands of the wives of his vanquished foes. Under his rule the earth was rich and always good, as in the days ofold. And he was fond of brave men. 

Now one day a Brahman named Hero came from Malwa to pay his homage tothis king. He had a wife named Virtue, a son named Trusty, and adaughter named Heroic. And he had just three servants, a dagger at hiship, a sword in his hand, and a shield in his other hand. These wereall the servants he had when he asked the king for five hundredgold-pieces a day as his wages. 

And the king thought from his appearance that he was a remarkably braveman, so he gave him the wages he asked. But out of curiosity he putspies on his track, to learn what he did with all the money. 

Now Hero called on the king in the morning, and at noon he took hissword and stood at the palace gate and divided his daily salary. Onehundred gold-pieces he gave to his wife for food and householdexpenses. And with another hundred he bought clothes and perfumes andnuts and such things. And another hundred he devoted to the worship ofVishnu and Shiva, after taking the ceremonial bath. And the two hundredwhich were left he gave to Brahmans and the unhappy and the poor. Thiswas the way he divided and spent the money every day. Then after he hadsacrificed and eaten dinner, he stood every night alone at the palacegate with his sword and shield. All this King Shudraka learned from hisspies and was greatly pleased and forbad the spies to follow him again. For he thought him a wonderful man, worthy of especial honour. 

Then one day a veil of clouds covered the sky and poured down rain instreams day and night, so that the highway was quite deserted. OnlyHero was at his post as usual by the palace gate. And when the sun setand dreadful darkness was spread abroad and the rain fell in sheets, the king wished to test Hero's behaviour. So at night he climbed to thepalace roof and cried: "Who is there at the gate?" And Hero answered:"I am here. " And the king thought: "How steadfast this man Hero is, andhow devoted to me! I must surely give him a greater post. " And hedescended from the roof and entered the palace and went to bed. 

The next night it rained again in sheets and the world was wrapped inthe darkness of death. And again the king thought to test hisbehaviour, and climbing to the roof he called out toward the palacegate: "Who is there?" And when Hero said: "I am here, your Majesty, "the king was greatly astonished. 

Just then he heard at a distance a sweet-voiced woman crying. And hethought: "Who is this who laments so piteously, as if in deep despair?In my kingdom there is no violence, no poor man and none distressed. Who can she be?" And being merciful, he called to Hero, who stoodbelow: "Listen, Hero. A woman is weeping at some distance. Go and learnwhy she weeps and who she is. " And Hero said "Certainly, " arranged hisdagger, took his sword in his hand, and started. He did not even thinkof the pelting hail, the flashing lightning, or the rain and darkness. And when the king saw him setting out alone in a night like that, hewas filled with pity and curiosity, and descending from the palaceroof, took his sword and followed all alone, without being seen. 

As Hero traced the sound of crying, he came to a beautiful lake outsidethe city, and there he saw a woman in the midst of the water, lamentingin these words: "Alas for you, brave and merciful and generous! Howshall I live without you?"

And Hero was amazed, and timidly asked her: "Who are you, and why doyou weep?" And she replied: "O Hero, I am the Goddess of the Earth, andnow my lord, this virtuous King Shudraka, is going to die in threedays. How shall I find another such master? So I am distracted withgrief, and I lament. "

When Hero heard this, he was frightened and said: "Goddess, is thereany remedy for this, any way in which the king might be saved?" And thegoddess answered: "There is just one remedy, my son, and it is in yourhands. " And Hero said: "Goddess, tell me quickly, that I may adopt itat once. What good would life be to us otherwise?"

Then the goddess said: "My son, there is no other man devoted to hismaster as you are: so you may learn how to save him. There is a templeto the Dreadful Goddess built by that king near his palace. If yousacrifice your son to her at once, then the king will not die. He willlive another hundred years. If you do it this very night, then theblessing will come, not otherwise. "

And Hero, the hero, replied: "Then I will go, Goddess, and do it thismoment. " And the Goddess of the Earth said: "Good fortune go with you, "and she vanished. And the king, who had followed secretly, heard itall. So he still followed to find out how Hero would behave. 

But Hero went straight home, woke his wife Virtue, and told her allthat the Goddess of the Earth had said. And his wife said: "My dear, ifso much depends on it, wake the boy and tell him. " Then Hero woke thelittle boy, told him all, and said: "My boy, if you are sacrificed tothe Dreadful Goddess, our king will live. If not, he will die in threedays. "

And the boy was true to his name. Without fear and without hesitationhe said: "My dear father, I am a lucky boy if the king lives at thecost of my life. Besides, that would pay for the food we have eaten. Why then delay? Take me quickly and sacrifice me to the goddess. Maythe king's evil fate be averted by my death!" And Hero was delightedand congratulated him, saying: "Well said! You are indeed my son. "

So Hero's wife Virtue and his daughter Heroic went through the nightwith Hero and Trusty to the temple of the Dreadful Goddess. The kingtoo followed them, disguised and unnoticed. Then the father took Trustyfrom his shoulder in the presence of the goddess. And Trusty worshippedthe goddess, and bravely saluted her, and said: "O Goddess, by thesacrifice of my head may the king live another hundred years and rule athornless kingdom. "

And as he prayed, Hero cut off his head and offered it to the DreadfulGoddess, saying: "May the king live at the cost of my son's life!" Thena voice cried from heaven: "O Hero, who else is devoted to his masteras you are? You have given life and royal power to the king at the costof your only son, and such a son. " All this the king himself saw andheard. 

Then Hero's daughter Heroic kissed the lips of her dead brother, andwas blinded with sorrow, and her heart broke, and she died. 

Then Hero's wife Virtue said: "My dear, we have done our duty by theking. And you see how my daughter died of grief. So now I say: Whatgood is life to me without my children? I was a fool before. I shouldhave given my own head to save the king. So now permit me to burnmyself at once. "

And when she insisted, Hero said: "Do so. What happiness is there in alife of constant mourning for your children? And as for your givingyour own life instead, do not grieve about that. If there had been anyother way, I should of course have given my life. So wait a moment. Iwill build you a funeral pile out of these logs. " So he built the pileand lighted it. 

And Virtue fell at her husband's feet, then worshipped the DreadfulGoddess, and prayed: "O Goddess, may I have the same husband in anotherlife, and may this same King Shudraka be saved at the cost of my son'slife. " And she died in the blazing fire. 

Then Hero thought: "I have done my duty by the king, as the heavenlyvoice admitted. And I have paid for the king's food which I have eaten. So now why should I want to live alone? It is not right for a man likeme to go on living at the expense of all the family which I ought tosupport. Why should I not please the goddess by sacrificing myself?"

So Hero first approached the goddess with a hymn of praise: "ODemon-slayer! Saviour! Devil-killer! Trident-holder! Joy of the wise!Protectress of the universe! Victory to thee, O best of mothers, whosefeet the world adores! O fearless refuge of the pious! Kali of thedreadful ornaments! Honour and glory to thee, O kindly goddess! Bepleased to accept the sacrifice of my head in behalf of King Shudraka. "Then he suddenly cut off his own head with his dagger. 

King Shudraka beheld this from his hiding-place, and was filled withamazement and grief and admiration. And he thought: "I have never seenor heard the like of this. That good man and his family have done ahard thing for me. In this strange world who else is so brave as that, to give his son, his family, and his life for his king: If I should notmake a full return for his kindness, my kingdom would mean nothing tome, and my life would be the life of a beast. If I lost my virtue, itwould all be a disgrace to me. "

But when he started to cut off his own head, there came a voice fromheaven: "My son, do nothing rash. I am well pleased with yourcharacter. The Brahman Hero and his children and his wife shall comeback to life. " And when the voice ceased, Hero stood up alive anduninjured with his son and his daughter and his wife. Then the king hidhimself again and looked on with eyes filled with tears of joy, andcould not see enough of them. 

Now Hero, like a man awaking from a dream, gazed at his son and hiswife and his daughter, and was greatly perplexed. He spoke to each byname, and asked them how they had come to life after being reduced toashes. "Is this a fancy of mine? Or a dream? Or an illusion? Or thefavour of the goddess?" And his wife and children said to him: "By thefavour of the goddess we are alive. "

At last Hero believed it, and having worshipped the goddess, he wenthome happy with his children and his wife. And when he had seen his sonand his wife and daughter safe at home, he went back that same night tothe palace gate. 

And King Shudraka saw all this and went back without being seenhimself, and climbed to the roof, and called: "Who is there at thegate?" And Hero replied: "Your Majesty, I, Hero, am here. At yourcommand I followed the woman who cried. She must have been a witch, forshe vanished the moment I saw her and spoke to her. "

When the king heard this, he was astonished beyond measure, for he hadseen what really happened. And he thought: "Ah, the hearts of brave menare deep as the sea, if they do not boast after doing an unparalleledaction. " So the king descended from the roof, entered the palace, andpassed the rest of the night there. 

Then when the court was held in the morning, Hero came to see the king. And as he stood there, the delighted king told all his counsellors andthe others the story of the night. And all were amazed and confoundedat hearing of Hero's virtues, and they praised him, crying: "Well done!Well done!"

Then the king and Hero lived happily together, sharing the powerequally. 

When the goblin had told this story, he asked King Triple-victory: "OKing, which of all these was the most worthy? If you know and will nottell, then the curse I told you of will be fulfilled. "

And the king said to the goblin: "O magic creature, King Shudraka wasthe most noble of them all. "

But the goblin said: "Why not Hero, the like of whom as a servant isnot to be found in the whole world? Or why should not his wife receivethe most praise, who did not waver when she saw her son killed like abeast before her eyes? Or why is not the boy Trusty the most worthy, who showed such wonderful manhood when only a little boy? Why do yousay that King Shudraka was the best among them?"

Then the king answered the goblin: "Not Hero. He was a gentleman born, so it was his duty to save his king at the cost of life, wife andchildren. And his wife was a lady, a faithful wife who only did whatwas right in following her husband. And Trusty was their son, and likethem. For the cloth is always like the threads. But the king has arightto use his subjects' lives to save his own. So when Shudraka gave hislife for them, he proved himself the best of all. "

When the goblin heard this, he jumped from the king's shoulder and wentback to his home without being seen. And the king was not disturbed bythis magic, but started back through the night to catch him. 

FIFTH GOBLIN

_The Brave Man, the Wise Man, and the Clever Man. To which should thegirl be given?_

Then King Triple-victory went back to the sissoo tree and saw the bodywith the goblin in it hanging there just as before. He took it downwithout being frightened by all its twistings and writhings, andquickly set out again. And as he walked along in silence as before, thegoblin said: "O King, you are obstinate, and you are pleasing to lookat. So to amuse you, I will tell another story. Listen. "

There is a city called Ujjain, famous throughout the world. There liveda king named Merit, who had as counsellor a Brahman named Hariswami, adorned with all noble virtues. The counsellor had a worthy wife, and ason named Devaswami was born to her, and was as good as she. And theyhad one daughter named Moonlight, who was worthy of her name, for shewas famous for her matchless beauty and charm. 

When the girl had grown out of childhood, she was proud of herwonderful beauty, and she told her mother, her father, and her brother:"I will marry a brave man or a wise man or a clever man. I should dieif I were married to anyone else. "

Now while her father was busy looking for such a husband for her, hewas sent by King Merit to another king in the southern country to makea treaty for war and peace. When he had finished his business, aBrahman youth, who had heard of his daughter's beauty, came and askedhim for her. 

And he said: "My daughter will not marry anyone unless he is a cleverman or a wise man or a brave man. Which of these are you? Tell me. " Andthe Brahman said: "I am a clever man. " "Show me, " said the father, andthe clever man made a flying chariot by his skill. Then he tookHariswami in this magic chariot, and carried him to the sky. And hetook the delighted father to the camp of the king of the southerncountry where he had been on business. Then Hariswami appointed themarriage for the seventh day. 

At this time another Brahman youth in Ujjain came to the girl's brotherand asked him for her. And when he was told that she would marry only awise man or a clever man or a brave man, he said he was a brave man. Then when he had shown his skill with weapons, the brother promised hissister to the brave man. And without telling his mother, he consultedthe star-gazers and appointed the marriage for the seventh day. 

At the same time a third Brahman youth came to the girl's mother andasked for the girl. And the mother said: "My son, a wise man or aclever man or a brave man shall marry my daughter but no one else. Which of these are you? Tell me. " And he said: "I am a wise man. " Soshe asked him about the past and the future, and found that he was awise man. Then she promised to give him her daughter on the seventh day. 

The next day Hariswami came home and told his wife and his son all thathe had done. And she and he each told him all that she or he had done. So Hariswami was greatly perplexed, because three bridegrooms had beeninvited. Then the seventh day came and the three bridegrooms came toHariswami's house. 

Strange to say, at that moment Moonlight disappeared. Then the wise mansaid: "A giant named Smoke-tail has carried her to his den in theVindhya forest. "

When Hariswami heard this from the wise man, he was frightened andasked the clever man to find a remedy for the trouble. And the cleverman made a chariot as before, full of all kinds of weapons, and broughtHariswami with the wise man and the brave man in a moment to theVindhya forest. And the wise man showed them the giant's den. 

When the giant saw what had happened, he came out in anger, and thebrave man fought with him. Then came a famous duel with strange weaponsbetween a man and a giant for the sake of a woman, like the ancientfight between Rama and Ravana. Though the giant was a terrible fighter, the brave man presently cut off his head with an arrow shaped like ahalf-moon. When the giant was killed, they found Moonlight in the denand all went back to Ujjain in the clever man's chariot. 

Then when the proper time for wedding came, there arose a great disputeamong the three in Hariswami's house. 

The wise man said: "If I had not discovered her by my wisdom, how couldyou have found her hiding-place? She should be given to me. "

The clever man said: "If I had not made a flying chariot, how could youhave gone there in a moment and come back like the gods, or how couldyou have had a chariot-fight with him? She should be given to me. "

The brave man said: "If I had not killed the giant in the fight, whowould have saved her in spite of all your pains? The girl should begiven to me. "

And as they quarrelled, Hariswami stood silent, confused, and perplexed. 

When the goblin had told this story, he said to the king: "O King, doyou say to which of them she should be given. If you know and will nottell, then your head will split into a hundred pieces. "

Then the king broke silence and said: "She should be given to the braveman, who risked his life and killed the giant and saved the girl. Thewise man and the clever man were only helpers whom Fate gave him. Astar-gazer and a chariot-maker work for other people, do they not?"

When the goblin heard this answer, he suddenly escaped from the king'sshoulder and went back. And the king determined to get him, and wentagain to the sissoo tree. 

SIXTH GOBLIN

_The Girl who transposed the Heads of her Husband and Brother. Whichcombination of head and body is her husband?_

Then the king went back to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on hisshoulder as before, and started in silence toward the monk. And thegoblin said to him: "O King, you are wise and good, so I am pleasedwith you. To amuse you, therefore, I will tell you another story with apuzzle in it. Listen. "

Long ago there was a king named Glory-banner in the world. His city wasnamed Beautiful. And in this city was a splendid temple to the goddessGauri. And to the right of the temple was a lake called Bath of Gauri. And on a certain day in each year a great crowd of people came there ona pilgrimage from all directions to bathe. 

One day a laundryman named White came there from another village tobathe. And the youth saw a maiden who had also come there to bathe. Hername was Lovely, and her father's name was Clean-cloth. She robbed themoon of its beauty and White of his heart. So he inquired about hername and family and went home lovesick. 

When he got there, he was ill and could not eat without her. And whenhis mother asked him, he told her what was in his heart, but did notchange his habits. But she went and told her husband, whose name wasSpotless. 

So Spotless went and saw how his son was acting, and said: "My son, whyshould you be downcast? Your desire is not hard to obtain. For if I askClean-cloth, he will surely give you his daughter. We are not inferiorto him in birth, wealth, or social position. I know him and he knowsme. So there is no difficulty about it. " Thus Spotless comforted hisson, made him eat and take care of himself, went with him the next dayto Clean-cloth's house, and asked that the girl might be given to hisson White. And Clean-cloth graciously promised to give her to him. 

Then when the time came, Clean-cloth gave White his charming daughter, a wife worthy of him. And when he was married, White went happily tohis father's house with his sweet bride. 

Now as he lived there happily, Lovely's brother came to visit. And whenthey had all asked him about his health and his sister had greeted himwith a kiss, and after he had rested, he said: "My father sent me toinvite Lovely and White to a festival in our house. " And all therelatives said it was a good plan and entertained him that day withappropriate things to drink and eat. 

The next morning White set out for his father-in-law's house, togetherwith his brother-in-law and Lovely. And when he came to the cityBeautiful, he saw the great temple of Gauri. And he said to Lovely andher brother: "We will see this goddess. I will go first and you twostay here. " So White went in to see the goddess. He entered the templeand bowed before the goddess whose eighteen arms had killed thehorrible demons, whose lotus-feet were set upon a giant that she hadcrushed. 

And when he had worshipped her, an idea suddenly came to him. "Peoplehonour this goddess with all kinds of living sacrifices. Why should Inot win her favour by sacrificing myself?" And he fetched a sword froma deserted inner room, cut off his own head, and let it fall on thefloor. 

Presently his brother-in-law entered the temple to see why he delayedso long. And when he saw his brother-in-law with his head cut off, hewent mad with grief, and cut off his own head in the same way with thesame sword. 

Then when he failed to come out, Lovely was alarmed and entered thetemple. And when she saw her husband and her brother in that condition, she cried: "Alas! This is the end of me!" and fell weeping to thefloor. But presently she rose, lamenting for the pair so unexpectantlydead, and thought: "What is my life good for now?"

Before killing herself, she prayed to the goddess: "O Goddess! One onlydeity of happiness and character! Partaker of the life of Shiva! Refugeof all women-folk! Destroyer of grief! Why have you killed my husbandand my brother at one fell swoop? It was not right, for I was alwaysdevoted to you. Then be my refuge when I pray to you, and hear my onepitiful prayer. I shall leave this wretched body of mine on this spot, but in every future life of mine, O Goddess, may I have the samehusband and brother. " Thus she prayed, praised, and worshipped thegoddess, then tied a rope to an ashoka tree which grew there. 

But while she was arranging the rope about her neck, a voice fromheaven cried: "Do nothing rash, my daughter. Leave the rope alone. Though you are young, I am pleased with your unusual goodness. Placethe two heads on the two bodies and they shall rise up again and livethrough my favour. "

So Lovely left the rope alone and joyfully went to the bodies. But inher great hurry and confusion she made a mistake. She put her husband'shead on her brother's body and her brother's head on her husband'sbody. Then they arose, sound and well, like men awaking from a dream. And they were all delighted to hear one another's adventures, worshipped the goddess, and went on their way. 

Now as she walked along, Lovely noticed that she had made a mistake intheir heads. And she was troubled and did not know what to do. 

When the goblin had told this story, he asked the king: "O King, whenthey were mingled in this way, which should be her husband? If you knowand do not tell, then the curse I spoke of will be fulfilled. "

And the king said to the goblin: "The body with the husband's head onit is her husband. For the head is the most important member. It is bythe head that we recognize people. "

Then the goblin slipped from the king's shoulder as before, and quicklydisappeared. And the king went back, determined to catch him. 

SEVENTH GOBLIN

_The Mutual Services of King Fierce-lion and Prince Good. Which is themore deserving?_

Then the king went back to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on hisshoulder as before, and started. And as he walked along, the goblinsaid: "O King, I will tell you a story to amuse your weariness. Listen. "

On the shore of the Eastern Ocean is Copper City. There a king namedFierce-lion lived. He turned his back to other men's wives, but not tofighting men. He destroyed his enemies, but not other men's wealth. 

One day a popular prince named Good came from the south to the king'sgate. He introduced himself, but did not get what he wanted from theking. And he thought: "If I am born a prince, why am I so poor? And ifI am to be poor, why did God give me so many desires? For this kingpays no attention to me, though I wait upon him and grow weary andfaint with hunger. "

While he was thinking, the king went hunting. He went with manyhorsemen and footmen, and the prince ran along in the dress of apilgrim with a club in his hand. And during the hunt the king chased agreat boar a long distance, and so came into another forest. There helost sight of the boar, for the trail was covered with leaves andgrass. And the king was tired and lost his way in the forest. Only thepilgrim-prince thought nothing of his life, and hungry and thirsty ashe was, he followed on foot the king who rode a swift horse. 

And when the king saw him following, he spoke lovingly: "My good man, do you perhaps know the way we came?"

And the pilgrim bowed low and said: "I know, your Majesty. But firstrest yourself a moment. The blazing sun, the middle jewel in the girdleof heaven's bride, is terribly hot. " Then the king said eagerly: "Seeif there is water anywhere. "

And the pilgrim agreed and climbed a high tree and looked around. Andhe saw a river and climbed down and took the king to it. He unsaddledthe horse, gave him water and grass, and let him rest. And when theking had bathed, the pilgrim took two fine mangoes from his skirt, washed them and gave them to the king. 

"Where did you get these?" asked the king, and the pilgrim bowed andsaid: "Your Majesty, I have lived on such food for ten years. While Iwas serving your Majesty, I had to live like a monk. " And the kingsaid: "What can I say? You deserve your name of Good. " And he wasfilled with pity and shame, and thought: "A curse on kings, who do notknow whether their servants are happy or not! And a curse of theirattendants, who do not tell them this and that!" And when the pilgriminsisted, the king was prevailed on to take the two mangoes. He restedthere with the pilgrim and ate the mangoes and drank water with thepilgrim, who was accustomed to eat mangoes and drink water. 

Then the pilgrim saddled the horse and went ahead to show the way, andat last, at the king's command, mounted behind on the horse; so theking found his soldiers and went safely home. And when he got there, heproclaimed the devotion of the pilgrim, and made him a rich man, butcould not feel that he had paid his debt. So Good stayed there happilywith King Fierce-lion and stopped living as a pilgrim. 

One day the king sent Good to Ceylon to ask for the hand of thedaughter of the King of Ceylon. So he set out after sacrificing to theproper god, and entered a ship with some Brahmans chosen by the king. And when the ship had safely reached the middle of the ocean, theresuddenly arose from the waves a very large flag-pole made of gold, witha top that touched the sky. It was adorned with waving banners ofvarious colours and was quite astonishing. 

At the same moment the clouds gathered, it began to rain violently, anda mighty wind blew. And the ship was driven by the storm winds andcaught on the flag-pole. Then the pole began to sink, dragging the shipwith it into the raging waves. And the Brahmans who were there wereovercome with fear and cursed the name of their king Fierce-lion. 

But Good could not endure that because of his devotion to his king. Hetook his sword in his hand, girt up his garment, and threw himselfafter the flag-pole into the sea. He had no fear of the pole whichseemed a refuge from the ocean. Then as he sank, the ship was batteredby the winds and waves and broke up. And all in it fell into the mouthsof sharks. 

But Good sank into the ocean, and when he looked about he saw awonderful city. There he entered a shrine to Gauri, tall as theheavenly mountain, with great gem-sprinkled banners on walls made ofdifferent kinds of jewels, in a golden temple blazing with jewelledpillars, with a garden that had a pool, the stairs to which were madeof splendid gems. After he had bowed low and praised and worshipped thegoddess there, he sat down before her in amazement, wondering if it wasall a conjuror's trick. 

Just then the door was suddenly opened by a heavenly maiden. Her eyeswere like lotuses, her face like the moon. She had a smile like aflower and a body soft as lotus-stems. And a thousand women waited uponher. She entered the shrine of the goddess and the heart of Good at thesame moment. And when she had worshipped the goddess there, she wentout from the shrine, but not from the heart of Good. 

She entered a circle of light, and Good followed her. And he sawanother splendid house, that seemed like a place of meeting for allriches and all enjoyments. And he saw the girl sitting on a jewelledcouch, and he approached and sat beside her. He was like a man paintedin a picture, for his eyes were fastened on her face. 

Now a servant of the maiden saw that his body was thrilled, that he wasintent upon the maiden, that he was in love. She understood hisfeelings and said to him: "Sir, you are our guest. Enjoy thehospitality of my mistress. Arise. Bathe. Eat. " And he felt a littlehope at her words and went to a pool in the garden which she showed him. 

He plunged into the pool, and when he rose to the surface, he foundhimself in the pool of King Fierce-lion in Copper City. And when he sawthat he had come there so suddenly, he thought: "Oh, what does it mean?Where is that heavenly garden? What a difference between the sight ofthat girl which was like nectar to me, and this immediate separationfrom her which is like terrible poison! It was no dream. I was awakewhen the serving-maid deceived me and made a fool of me. "

He was like a madman without the girl. He wandered in the garden andmourned in a lovelorn way. He was surrounded by wind-blownflower-pollen which seemed to him the yellow flames of separation. Andwhen the gardener saw him in this state, he went and told the king. 

And the king was troubled. He went himself to see Good, and asked himsoothingly: "What does this mean? Tell me, my friend. Where did you go?And where did you come? And where did you stay? And what did you fallinto?"

Then Good told him the whole adventure. And the king thought: "Ah, itis fortunate for me that this brave man is lovelorn. For now I have achance to pay my debt to him. " So the king said to him: "My friend, give over this vain grief. I will go with you by the same road, andbring you to the heavenly maiden. " So he comforted Good, and made himtake a bath. 

The next day he transferred his royal duties to his counsellors andentered a ship with Good. Good showed the way through the sea and theysaw the flag-pole with its banners rising as before in the middle ofthe ocean. Then Good said to the king: "Your Majesty, here is the magicflag-pole standing up. When I sink down there, you must sink too alongthe flag-pole. " So when they came near the sinking pole, Good jumpedfirst, and the king followed him. 

They sank down and came to the heavenly city. And the king wasastonished, and after he had worshipped the goddess, he sat down withGood. Then the girl, like Beauty personified, came out of the circle oflight with her friends. "There she is, the lovely creature, " said Good, and the king thought: "He is quite right to love her. " But when she sawthe king looking like a god, she wondered who the strange and wonderfulman might be, and entered the shrine to worship the goddess. 

But the king took Good and went into the garden to show how little hecared about her. A moment later the girl came from the shrine; she hadbeen praying for a good husband. And she said to a girl friend: "Myfriend, I wonder where I could see the man who was here. Where is thegreat man? You girls must hunt for him and ask him to be good enough tocome and accept our hospitality. For he is a wonderful man, and we mustbe polite to him. "

So the girl found him in the garden and gave him her mistress' messagevery respectfully. But the brave king spoke loftily to her: "Your wordsare hospitality enough. Nothing else is necessary. "

Now when her mistress had heard what he said, she thought he was anoble character, better than anybody else. She was attracted by thecourage of the king in refusing a sort of hospitality which was almosttoo much to offer a mere man, and thought about the fulfilment of herprayer for a husband. So she went into the garden herself. She drewnear to the king and lovingly begged him to accept her hospitality. 

But the king pointed to Good and said: "My dear girl, he told me of thegoddess here, and I came to see her. And by following the flag-pole Isaw the goddess and her very marvellous temple. It was only afterwardsthat I happened to see you. "

Then the girl said: "O King, you may be interested in seeing a citywhich is the wonder of the three worlds. " And the king laughed andsaid: "He told me about that, too. I believe there is a pool forbathing there. " And the girl said: "O King, do not say that. I am not adeceitful girl. Why should I deceive an honourable man, especially asyour noble character has made me feel like a servant? Pray do notrefuse me. "

So the king agreed and went with Good and the girl to the edge of thecircle of light. There a door opened and he entered and saw anotherheavenly city like a second hill of heaven; for it was built of gemsand gold, and the flowers and fruits of every season grew there at thesame time. 

And the princess seated the king on a splendid throne and brought himgifts and said: "Your Majesty, I am the daughter of the great godBlack-wheel. But Vishnu sent my father to heaven. And I inherited thesetwo magic cities where one has everything he wants. There is no old ageor death to trouble us here. And now you are in the place of my fatherto rule over the cities and over me. " So she offered him herself andall she had. But the king said: "In that case you are my daughter and Igive you in marriage to my brave friend good. "

In the king's words she saw the fulfilment of her prayer, and beingsensible and modest, she agreed. So the king married them and gave allthe magic wealth to happy Good, and said: "My friend, I have paid younow for one of the two mangoes which I ate. But I remain in your debtfor the second. "

Then he asked the princess how he could get back to his city. And shegave the king a sword called Invincible, and the magic fruit whichwards off birth, old age, and death. And the king took the sword andthe fruit, plunged into the pool which she showed him, and came up inhis own country, feeling completely successful. But Good ruled happilyover the kingdom of the princess. 

When the goblin had told this story, he asked the king: "O King, whichof these two deserves more credit for plunging into the sea?"

And the king was afraid of the curse, so he gave a true answer: "Goodseems to me the more deserving, for he did not know the truthbeforehand, but plunged without hope into the sea, while the king knewthe truth when he jumped. "

And as soon as the king broke silence, the goblin slipped from hisshoulder as before without being seen and went to the sissoo tree. Andthe king tried as before to catch him. Brave men do not waver untilthey have finished what they have begun. 

EIGHTH GOBLIN

_The Specialist in Food, the Specialist in Women, and the Specialist inCotton. Which is the cleverest?_

So the king went back under the sissoo tree, caught the goblin just asbefore, put him on his shoulder, and started toward the monk. And as hewalked along, the goblin on his shoulder spoke and said: "O King, listen once more to the following story to beguile your weariness. "

In the Anga country there is a great region called Forest. There liveda great Brahman, pious and wealthy, whose name was Vishnu-swami. To hisworthy wife three sons were born, one after another. When they hadgrown to be young men, specialists in matters of luxury, they were sentone day by their father to find a turtle for a sacrifice which he hadbegun. 

So the brothers went to the ocean and there they found a turtle. Thenthe eldest said to the two younger: "One of you take this turtle forFather's sacrifice. I cannot carry a slimy thing that smells raw. "

But when the eldest said this, the two younger said: "Sir, if you feeldisgust, why shouldn't we?"

When the eldest heard this, he said: "You take the turtle, otherwiseFather's sacrifice will be ruined on your account. Then you and Fathertoo will surely go to hell. "

When they heard him, the two younger brothers laughed and said: "Sir, you seem to know our common duty, but not your own. "

Then the eldest said: "What? Are you not aware that I am a connoisseurin food? For I am a specialists in foods. How can I touch thisloathsome thing?"

When he heard these words, the second brother said: "But I am even moreof a connoisseur. I am a specialist in women. So how can I touch it?"

After this speech, the eldest said to the youngest: "Do you then, beingyounger than we, carry the turtle. "

Then the youngest frowned and said to them: "Fools! I am a greatspecialist in cotton. "

So the three brothers quarrelled, and arrogantly leaving the turtlebehind them, they went to have the matter decided at Pinnacle, thecapital of a king called Conqueror. When they came there, and had beenannounced and introduced by the door-keeper, they told their story tothe king. And when the king had heard all, he said: "Stay here. I willexamine you one after another. " So they agreed and all stayed there. 

Then the king invited them in at his own dinner hour, seated them onmagnificent seats, and set before them sweet dishes of six flavours, fit for a king. While all the rest ate, one of the Brahmans, thespecialist in food, disgustedly shook his head and refused to eat. Andwhen the king himself asked him why he would not eat food that wassweet and savoury, he respectfully replied: "Your Majesty, in this foodthere is the odour of smoke from a burning corpse. Therefore, I do notwish to eat it, however sweet it may be. "

Then at the king's command all the rest smelt of it and declared it thebest of winter rice, and perfectly sweet. But the food-critic held hisnose and would not touch it. Now when the king reflected and made acareful investigation, he learned from the commissioners that the dishwas made of rice grown near a village crematory. Then he was greatlyastonished and pleased, and said: "Brahman, you are certainly a judgeof food. Pray take something else. "

After dinner the king dismissed them to their rooms, and sent for themost beautiful woman of his court. And at night he sent this lovelycreature, all adorned, to the second brother, the specialist in women. She came with a servant of the king to his chamber, and when sheentered, she seemed to illuminate the room. But the judge of womenalmost fainted, and stopping his nose with his left hand, he said tohis servants: "Take her away! If not, I shall die. A goaty smell issuesfrom her. "

So the servants, in distress and astonishment, conducted her to theking and told him what had happened. Then the king sent for thespecialist in women, and said: "Brahman, she has anointed herself withsandal, camphor, and aloes, so that a delightful perfume pervades herneighbourhood. How could this woman have a goaty smell?" But in spiteof this the specialist in women would not yield. And when the kingendeavoured to learn the truth, he heard from her own lips that in herinfancy she had been separated from her mother and had been brought upon goat's milk. Then the king was greatly astonished and loudly praisedthe critical judgment of the specialist in women. 

Quickly he had a couch prepared for the third brother, the specialistin cotton. So the critic of cotton went to sleep on a bed with sevenquilts over the frame and covered with a pure, soft coverlet. When onlya half of the first watch of the night was gone, he suddenly startedfrom the bed, shouting and writhing with pain, his hand pressed to hisside. And the king's men who were stationed there saw the curly redoutline of a hair deeply imprinted on his side. 

They went at once and informed the king, who said to them: "See whetherthere is anything under the quilts or not. " So they went and searchedunder each quilt, and under the last they found one hair, which theyimmediately took and showed to the king. And the king summoned thespecialist in cotton, and finding the mark exactly corresponding to thehair, was filled with extreme astonishment. And he spent that nightwondering how the hair could sink into his body through seven quilts. 

Now when the king arose in the morning, he was delighted with theirmarvellous critical judgment and sensitiveness, so that he gave each ofthe three specialists a hundred thousand gold-pieces. And they werecontented and stayed there, forgetting all about the turtle, and thusincurring a crime through the failure of their father's sacrifice. 

When he had told this remarkable story, the goblin on the king'sshoulder said: "O King, remember the curse I spoke of and declare whichof these three was the cleverest. "

When he heard this, the wise king answered the goblin: "Without doubt Iregard the specialist in cotton as the cleverest, on whose body theimprint of the hair was seen to appear visibly. The other two mightpossibly have found out beforehand. "

When the king had said this, the goblin slipped from his shoulder asbefore. And the king went back under the sissoo tree again to fetch him. 

NINTH GOBLIN

_The Four Scientific Suitors. To which should the girl be given?_

Then the king went back to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on hisshoulder, and started. And the goblin spoke to him again: "O King, whydo you go to such pains in this cemetery at night? Do you not see thehome of the ghosts, full of dreadful creatures, terrible in the night, wrapped in darkness as in smoke? Why do you work so hard and grow wearyfor the sake of that monk? Well, to amuse the journey, listen to apuzzle which I will tell you. "

In the Avanti country is a city built by the gods at the beginning oftime, adorned with wonderful wealth and opportunities for enjoyment. Inthe earliest age it was called Lotus City, then Pleasure City, thenGolden City, and now it is called Ujjain. There lived a king namedHeroic. And his queen was named Lotus. 

One day the king went with her to the sacred Ganges river and prayed toShiva that he might have children. And after long prayer he heard avoice from heaven, for Shiva was at last pleased with his devotion: "OKing, there shall be born to you a brave son to continue your dynasty, and a daughter more beautiful than the nymphs of heaven. "

When he heard the heavenly voice, the king was delighted at thefulfilment of his wishes, and went back to his city with the queen. Andfirst Queen Lotus bore a son called Brave, and then a daughter namedGrace who put the god of love to shame. 

When the girl grew up, the king sought for a suitable husband for her, and invited all the neighbouring princes by letter, but not one of themseemed good enough for her. So the king tenderly said to his daughter:"My dear, I do not see a husband worthy of you, so I will summon allthe kings hither, and you shall choose. " But the princess said: "Mydear father, such a choice would be very embarrassing. I would rathernot. Just marry me to any good-looking young man, who understands asingle science from beginning to end. I wish nothing more nor less thanthat. "

Now while the king was looking for such a husband, four brave, good-looking, scientific men from the south heard of the matter andcame to him. And when they had been hospitably received, each explainedhis own science to the king. 

The first said: "I am a working-man, and my name is Five-cloth. I makefive splendid suits of clothes a day. One I give to some god and one toa Brahman. One I wear myself, and one I shall give to my wife when Ihave one. The fifth I sell, to buy food and things. This is my science. Pray give me Grace. "

The second said: "I am a farmer, and my name is Linguist. I understandthe cries of all beasts and birds. Pray give me the princess. "

The third said: "I am a strong-armed soldier, and my name is Swordsman. I have no rival on earth in the science of swordsmanship. O King, praygive me your daughter. "

The fourth said: "O King, I am a Brahman, and my name is Life. Ipossess a wonderful science. For if dead creatures are brought to me, Ican quickly restore them to life. Let your daughter find a husband in aman who has such heroic skill. "

When they had spoken, and the king had seen that they all had wonderfulgarments and personal beauty, he and his daughter swung in doubt. 

When the goblin had told this story, he said to the king: "Remember thecurse I mentioned, and tell me to which of them the girl should begiven. "

And the king said to the goblin: "Sir, you are merely trying to gaintime by making me break silence. There is no puzzle about that. Howcould a warrior's daughter be given to a working-man, a weaver? Or to afarmer, either? And as to his knowledge of the speech of beasts andbirds, of what practical use is it? And what good is a Brahman whoneglects his own affairs and turns magician, despising real courage? Ofcourse she should be given to the warrior Swordsman who had somemanhood with his science. "

When the goblin heard this, he escaped by magic from the king'sshoulder, and disappeared. And the king followed him as before. Discouragement never enters the brave heart of a resolute man. 

TENTH GOBLIN

_The Three Delicate Wives of King Virtue-banner. Which is the mostdelicate?_

Then the king went to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on his shoulderonce more, and started toward the monk. And as he walked along, thegoblin on his shoulder said: "O King, I will tell you a strange storyto relieve your weariness. Listen. "

There once was a king in Ujjain, whose name was Virtue-banner. He hadthree princesses as wives, and loved them dearly. One of them was namedCrescent, the second Star, and the third Moon. While the king livedhappily with his wives, he conquered all his enemies, and was content. 

One day at the time of the spring festival, the king went to the gardento play with his three wives. There he looked at the flower-laden vineswith black rows of bees on them; they seemed like the bow of the god oflove, all ready for service. He heard the songs of nightingales in thetrees; they sounded like commands of Love. And with his wives he drankwine which seemed like Love's very life-blood. 

Then the king playfully pulled the hair of Queen Crescent, and alotus-petal fell from her hair into her lap. And the queen was sodelicate that it wounded her, and she screamed and fainted. And theking was distracted, but when servants sprinkled her with cool waterand fanned her, she gradually recovered consciousness. And the kingtook her to the palace and waited upon his dear wife with a hundredremedies which the physicians brought. 

And when the king saw that she was made comfortable for the night, hewent to the palace balcony with his second wife Star. Now while sheslept on the king's breast, the moonbeams found their way through thewindow and fell upon her. And she awoke in a moment, and started up, crying "I am burned!" Then the king awoke and anxiously asked what thematter was, and he saw great blisters on her body. When he asked herabout it, Queen Star said: "The moonbeams that fell on me did it. " Andthe king was distracted when he saw how she wept and suffered. Hecalled the servants and they made a couch of moist lotus-leaves, anddressed her wounds with damp sandal-paste. 

At that moment the third queen, Moon, left her room to go to the king. And as she moved through the noiseless night, she clearly heard in adistant part of the palace the sound of pestles grinding grain. And shecried: "Oh, oh! It will kill me!" She wrung her hands and sat down inagony in the hall. But her servants returned and led her to her room, where she took to her bed and wept. And when the servants asked whatthe matter was, she tearfully showed her hands with bruises on them, like two lilies with black bees clinging to them. So they went and toldthe king. And he came in great distress, and asked his dear wife aboutit. She showed her hands and spoke, though she suffered: "My dear, whenI heard the sound of the pestles, these bruises came. " Then the kingmade them give her a cooling plaster of sandal-paste and other things. 

And the king thought: "One of them was wounded by a fallinglotus-petal. The second was burned by the moonbeams. The third had herhands terribly bruised by the sound of pestles. I love them dearly, butalas! The very delicacy which is so great a virtue, is positivelyinconvenient. "

And he wandered about in the palace, and it seemed as if the night hadthree hundred hours. But in the morning the king and his skilfulphysicians took such measures that before long his wives were well andhe was happy. 

When he had told this story, the goblin asked: "O King, which of themwas the most delicate?" And the king said: "The one who was bruised bythe mere sound of the pestles, when nothing touched her. The other twowho were wounded or blistered by actual contact with lotus-petals ormoonbeams, are not equal to her. "

When the goblin heard this, he went back, and the king resolutelyhastened to catch him again. 

ELEVENTH GOBLIN

_The King who won a Fairy as his Wife. Why did his counsellor's heartbreak?_

Then the king went as before to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on hisshoulder, and started back. And the goblin said once more: "O King, Ilike you wonderfully well because you are not discouraged. So I willtell you a delightful little story to relieve your weariness. Listen. "

In the Anga country was a young king named Glory-banner, so beautifulthat he seemed an incarnation of the god of love. He had conquered allhis enemies by his strength of arm, and he had a counsellor namedFarsight. 

At last the king, proud of his youth and beauty, entrusted all thepower in his quiet kingdom to his counsellor, and gradually devotedhimself entirely to pleasure. He spent all his time with the ladies ofthe court, and listened more attentively to their love-songs than tothe advice of statesmen. He took greater pleasure in peeping into theirwindows than into the holes in his administration. But Farsight borethe whole burden of public business, and never wearied day or night. 

Then the people began to murmur: "The counsellor Farsight has seducedthe king, and now he alone has all the kingly glory. " And thecounsellor said to his wife, whose name was Prudence: "My dear, theking is devoted to his pleasures, and great infamy is heaped upon me bythe people. They say I have devoured the kingdom, though in fact Isupport the burden of it. Now popular gossip damages the greatest man. Was not Rama forced to abandon his good wife by popular clamour? Sowhat shall I do now?"

Then his clever wife Prudence showed that she deserved her name. Shesaid: "My dear, leave the king and go on a pilgrimage. Tell him thatyou are an old man now, and should be permitted to travel in foreigncountries for a time. Then the gossip will cease, when they see thatyou are unselfish. And when you are gone, the king will bear his ownburdens. And thus his levity will gradually disappear. And when youcome back, you can assume your office without reproach. "

To this advice the counsellor assented, and said to the king in thecourse of conversation: "Your Majesty, permit me to go on a pilgrimagefor a few days. Virtue seems of supreme importance to me. "

But the king said: "No, no, counsellor. Is there no other kind ofvirtue except in pilgrimages? How about generosity and that kind ofthing? Isn't it possible to prepare for heaven in your own house?"

Then the counsellor said: "Your Majesty, one gets worldly prosperityfrom generosity and that kind of thing. But a pilgrimage gives eternallife. A prudent man should attend to it while he has strength. Thechance may be lost, for no one can be sure of his health. "

But the king was still arguing against it when the doorkeeper came inand said: "Your Majesty, the glorious sun is diving beneath the pool ofheaven. Arise. The hour for your bath is slipping away. " And the kingwent immediately to bathe. 

The counsellor went home, still determined on his pilgrimage. He wouldnot let his wife go with him, but started secretly. Not even hisservants knew. 

He wandered alone through many countries to many holy places, andfinally came to the Odra country. There he saw a city near the ocean, where he entered a temple to Shiva and sat down in the court. There hesat, hot and dusty from long travel, when he was seen by a merchantnamed Treasure who had come to worship the god. The merchant gatheredfrom his dress and appearance that he was a high-born Brahman, andinvited him home, and entertained him with food, bathing, and the like. 

When the counsellor was rested, the merchant asked him: "Who are you?Whence do you come? And where are you going?" And the other replied: "Iam a Brahman named Farsight. I came here on a pilgrimage from the Angacountry. "

Then the merchant Treasure said to him: "I am preparing for a tradingvoyage to Golden Island. Do you stay in my house. And when I come back, and you are wearied from your pilgrimage, rest here for a time beforegoing home. " But Farsight said: "I do not want to stay here. I wouldrather go with you. " And the good merchant agreed. And the counsellorslept in the first bed he had lain in for many nights. 

The next day he went to the seashore with the merchant, and entered theship loaded with the merchant's goods. He sailed along, admiring thewonders and terrors of the sea, till at last he reached Golden Island. There he stayed for a time until the merchant had finished his buyingand selling. Now on the way back, he saw a magic tree suddenly risingfrom the ocean. It had beautiful branches, boughs of gold, fruits ofjewels, and splendid blossoms. And sitting on a jewelled couch in thebranches was a lovely maiden of heavenly beauty. And while thecounsellor wondered what it all meant, the maiden took her lute in herhand, and began to sing:

 Whatever seed of fate is sown, The fruit appears--'tis strange! Whatever deed a man has done, Not God himself can change. 

And when she had made her meaning clear, the heavenly maidenstraightway sank with the magic tree and the couch. And Farsightthought: "What a wonderful thing I have seen to-day! What a strangeplace the ocean is for the appearance of a tree with a fairy in it! Andif this is a usual occurrence at sea, why do not other goddesses arise?"

The pilot and other sailors saw that he was astonished, and they said:"Sir, this wonderful maiden appears here regularly, and sinks a momentafter, but the sight is new to you. " Then the counsellor, filled withamazement, came to the shore with Treasure, and disembarked. And whenthe merchant had unloaded his goods and caused his servants to rejoice, the counsellor went home with him and spent many happy days there. 

At last he said to Treasure: "Merchant, I have rested happily for along time in your house. Now I wish to go to my own country. Peace bewith you!" And in spite of urging from the merchant, Farsight took hisleave, and started with no companion except his own courage. He wentthrough many countries and at last reached the Anga country. And scoutswho had been sent by King Glory-banner saw him before he reached thecity. When the king learned of it, he went himself out of the city tomeet him, for he had been terribly grieved by the separation. He drewnear, embraced and greeted the counsellor and took him, all worn anddusty with the weary journey, into an inner room. 

And as soon as the counsellor was refreshed, the king said:"Counsellor, why did you leave us? How could you bring yourself to doso harsh and loveless a thing? But after all, who can understand thestrange workings of stern necessity? To think that you should decideall at once to wander off on a pilgrimage! Well, tell me what countriesyou visited, and what new things you saw. "

Then the counsellor told him the whole story truthfully and in order, the journey to Golden Island and the fairy who rose singing from thesea, her wonderful beauty and the magic tree. 

But the king immediately fell in love so hopelessly that his kingdomand his life seemed worthless to him without her. He took thecounsellor aside and said: "Counsellor, I simply must see her. Rememberthat I shall die if I do not. I bow to my fate. I will take the journeywhich you took. You must not refuse me nor accompany me. I shall goalone and in disguise. You must rule the kingdom, and not dispute mywords. Swear to do it on your life. "

So he spoke, and would not listen to advice, but dismissed thecounsellor. Then Farsight was unhappy though a great festival was madefor him. How can a good counsellor be happy when his master devoteshimself to a vice?

The next night King Glory-banner threw the burden of government on thatexcellent counsellor, assumed the dress of a hermit, and left his city. And as he travelled, he saw a monk named Grass, who said when the kingbowed before him as a holy man: "My son, if you sail with a merchantnamed Fortune, you will obtain the maiden you desire. Go on fearlessly. "

So the king bowed again and went on rejoicing. After crossing riversand mountains he came to the ocean. And on the shore he met at once themerchant Fortune whom the monk had mentioned, bound for Golden Island. And when the merchant saw the king's appearance and his signet ring, hebowed low, took him on the ship, and set sail. 

When the ship reached the middle of the sea, the maiden suddenly arose, sitting in the branches of the magic tree. And as the king gazedeagerly at her, she sang as before to her lute:

 Whatever seed of fate is sown The fruit appears--'tis strange! Whatever deed a man has done, Not God himself can change. 

 Whatever, how, for whom, and where 'Tis fated so to be, That thing, just so, for him, and there Must happen fatally. 

This song she sang, hinting at what was to happen. And the king gazedat her smitten by love, and could not move. Then he cried: "O Sea, inhiding her, you deceive those who think they have your treasures. Honour and glory to you! I seek your protection. Grant me my desire!"And as the king prayed, the maiden sank with the tree. Then the kingjumped after her into the sea. 

The good merchant Fortune thought he was lost and was ready to die ofgrief. But he was comforted by a voice from heaven which said: "Donothing rash. There is no danger when he sinks in the sea. For he isthe king Glory-banner, disguised as a hermit. He came here for the sakeof the maiden; she was his wife in a former life. And he will win herand return to his kingdom in the Anga country. " So the merchant sailedon to complete his business. 

But King Glory-banner sank in the sea, and all at once he saw aheavenly city. He looked in amazement at the balconies with theirsplendid jewelled pillars, their walls bright with gold, and thenetwork of pearls in their windows. And he saw gardens with pools thathad stairways of various gems, and magic trees that yielded alldesires. But rich as it was, the city was deserted. 

He entered house after house, but did not find the maiden anywhere. Then he climbed a high balcony built of gems, opened a door, andentered. And there he saw her all alone, lying on a jewelled couch, andclad in splendid garments. He eagerly raised her face to see if it wasreally she, and saw that it was indeed the maiden he sought. At thesight of her he had the strange feeling of the traveller in a desert insummer at the sight of a river. 

And she opened her eyes, saw that he was handsome and loveable, andleft her couch in confusion. But she welcomed him and with downcasteyes that seemed like full-blown lotuses she did honour to his feet. Then she slowly spoke: "Who are you, sir? How did you come to thisinaccessible under-world? And what is this hermit garb? For I see thatyou are a king. Oh, sir, if you would do me a kindness, tell me this. "

And the king answered her: "Beautiful maiden, I am King Glory-banner ofthe Anga country, and I heard from a reliable person that you were tobe seen on the sea. To see you I assumed this garb, left my kingdom, and followed you hither. Oh, tell me who you are. "

Then she said to him with bashful love: "Sir, there is a king of thefairies named Moonshine. I am his daughter, and my name is Moonlight. Now my father has left me alone in this city. I do not know where hewent with the rest of the people, or why. Therefore, as my home islonely, I rise through the ocean, sit on a magic tree, and song aboutfate. "

Then the king remembered the words of the monk, and urged her with suchgentle, tender words that she confessed her love and agreed to marryhim. But she made a condition: "My dear, on four set days in each monthyou must let me go somewhere unhindered and unseen. There is a reason. "And the king agreed, married her, and lived in heavenly happiness withher. 

While he was living in heavenly bliss, Moonlight said to him one day:"My dear, you must wait here. I am going somewhere on an errand. Forthis is one of the set days. While you stay here, sweetheart, you mustnot go into that crystal room, nor plunge into this pool. If you do, you will find yourself at that very moment in the world again. " So shesaid good-bye and left the city. 

But the king took his sword and followed, to learn her secret. And hesaw a giant approaching with a great black cave of a mouth that yawnedlike the pit. The giant fell down and howled horribly, then tookMoonlight into his mouth and swallowed her. 

And the king's anger blazed forth. He took his great sword, black as asnake that has sloughed its skin, ran up wrathfully, and cut off thegiant's head. He was blinded by his madness, he did not know what todo, he was afflicted by the loss of his darling. But Moonlight splitopen the stomach of the giant, and came out alive and unhurt, like thebrilliant, spotless moon coming out from a black cloud. 

When he saw that she was saved, the king cried: "Come, come to me!" andran forward and embraced her. And he asked her: "What does it mean, dearest? Is this a dream, or an illusion?" And the fairy answered: "Mydear, listen to me. It is not a dream, nor an illusion. My father, theking of the fairies, laid this curse upon me. My father had many sons, but he loved me so that he could not eat without me. And I used to cometo this deserted spot twice a month to worship Shiva. 

"One day I came here and it happened that I spent the whole day inworship. That day my father waited for me and would not eat or drinkanything, though he was hungry and angry with me. At night I stoodbefore him with downcast eyes, for I had done wrong. And he forgot hislove and cursed me--so strong is fate. Because you have despised meand left me hungry a whole day, a giant named Terror-of-Fate willswallow you four times a month when you leave the city. And each timeyou will split him open and come out. And you shall not remember thecurse afterwards, nor the pain of being swallowed alive. And you mustlive here alone. '

"But when I begged him, he thought awhile and softened his curse. WhenGlory-banner, King of the Angas, shall become your husband, and shallsee you swallowed by the giant, and shall kill the giant, then thecurse shall end, and you shall remember all your magic arts. ' Then heleft me here, and went with his people to the Nishadha mountain. But Istayed here because of the curse. And now the curse is ended, and Iremember everything. So now I shall go to the Nishadha mountain to seemy father. Of course now I remember how to fly. And you are at libertyto stay here, or to go back to your own kingdom. "

Then the king was sad, and he begged her thus: "My beautiful wife, donot go for seven days. Be as kind as you are beautiful. Let me be happywith you in the garden, and forget my longings. Then you may go to yourfather, and I will go home. " So he persuaded her, and was happy withher for six days in the garden. And the lilies in the ponds looked likelonging eyes, and the ripples like hands raised to detain them, and thecries of swans and cranes seemed to say: "Do not leave us and go away. "

On the seventh day the king cleverly led his wife to the pool fromwhich one could get back to the world. There he threw his arms abouther and plunged into the pool, and came up with her in the pool in thegarden of his own palace. 

The gardeners saw that the king had come back with a wife, and theyjoyfully ran and told the counsellor Farsight. He came and fell at theking's feet, and then led the king and the fairy into the palace. Andthe counsellor and the people thought: "Wonderful! The king has won thefairy whom others could see only for a moment like the lightning in thesky. Whatever is written in one's fate, that comes true, howeverimpossible it may be. "

But when Moonlight saw that the king was in his own country, and theseven days were over, she thought she would fly away like otherfairies. But she could not remember how. Then she became very sad, likea woman who has been robbed. 

And the king said: "Why are you so sad, my dear? Tell me. " And thefairy said: "The curse is over. Yet because I have been bound so longin the fetters of your love, I have lost my magic arts. I cannot fly. "Then the king thought: "The fairy is really mine, " and he was happy andmade a great feast. 

When the counsellor Farsight saw this, he went home, and lay down onhis bed, and his heart broke, and he died. Then the king governed thekingdom himself, and lived for a long time in heavenly happiness withMoonlight. 

When he had told this story, the goblin said: "O King, when the kingwas so happy, why should the counsellor's heart break? Was it fromgrief because he did not win the fairy himself? Or from sorrow becausethe king came back, and he could no longer act as king? If you know andwill not tell me, then you will lose your virtue, and your head will goflying into a hundred pieces. "

And the king said to the goblin: "O magic creature, neither of thesereasons would be possible for a high-minded counsellor. But he thought:The king used to neglect his duties for the sake of ordinary women. What will happen now, when he loves a fairy? In spite of all myefforts, a terrible misfortune has happened. ' I think that was why hisheart broke. "

Then the magic goblin went back to his tree in a moment. And the kingwas still determined to catch him, and went once more to the sissootree. 

TWELFTH GOBLIN

_The Brahman who died because Poison from a Snake in the Claws of a Hawkfell into a Dish of Food given him by a Charitable Woman. Who is toblame for his death?_

Then the King went back under the sissoo tree, put the goblin on hisshoulder, and started as before. And as he walked along, the goblinsaid to him again: "O King, listen to a very condensed story. "

There is a city called Benares. In it lived a Brahman named Devaswami, whom the king honoured. He was very rich, and he had a son namedHariswami. This son had a wonderful wife, and her name was Beautiful. No doubt the Creator put together in her the priceless elements ofcharm and loveliness after his practice in making the nymphs of heaven. 

One night Hariswami was sleeping on a balcony cooled by the rays of themoon. And a fairy prince named Love-speed was flying through the air, and as he passed he saw Beautiful asleep beside her husband. He tookher, still asleep, and carried her off through the air. 

Presently Hariswami awoke, and not seeing the mistress of his life, herose in anxiety. And he wondered: "Oh, where has my wife gone? Is sheangry with me? Or is she playing hide-and-seek with me, to see how Iwill take it?" So he roamed anxiously all over the balcony during therest of the night. But he did not find her, though he searched as faras the garden. 

Then he was overcome by his sorrow and sobbed convulsively. "Oh, Beautiful, my darling! Fair as the moon! White as the moonlight! Wasthe night jealous of your beauty; did she carry you away? Yourloveliness shamed the moon who refreshed me with beams cool as sandal;but now that you are gone, the same beams torment me like blazingcoals, like poisoned arrows!"

And as Hariswami lamented thus, the night came to an end, but hisanguish did not end. The pleasant sun scattered the darkness, but couldnot scatter the blind darkness of Hariswami's madness. His pitifullamentations increased a hundredfold, when the nightly cries of thebirds ended. His relatives tried to comfort him, but he could not pluckup courage while his loved one was lost. He went here and there, sobbing out: "Here she stood. And here she bathed. And here she adornedherself. And here she played. "

His relatives and friends gave him good advice. "She is not dead, " theysaid. "Why should you make way with yourself? You will surely find her. Pluck up courage and hunt for her. Nothing is impossible to the braveand determined man. " And when they urged him, Hariswami after some daysplucked up heart. 

He thought: "I will give all my fortune to the Brahmans, and thenwander to holy places. Thus I will wear away my sins, and when my sinsare gone, perhaps I shall find my darling in my wanderings. " So hearose and bathed. 

On the next day he provided food and drink, and made a great feast forthe Brahmans, and gave them all he had except his piety. Then hestarted to wander to holy places, hoping to find his wife. 

As he wandered, the summer came on him like a lion, the blazing sun itsmouth, and the sunbeams its mane. And the hot wind blew, made hotteryet by the sighs of travellers separated from their wives. And theyellow mud dried and cracked, as if the lakes were broken-hearted atthe loss of their lotuses. And the trees, filled with chirping birds, seemed to lament the absence of the spring, and their withering leavesseemed like lips that grow dry in the heat. 

At this time Hariswami was distressed by the heat and the loss of hiswife, by hunger, thirst, and weariness. And as he sought for food, hecame to a village. There he saw many Brahmans eating in the house of aBrahman named Lotus-belly, and he leaned against the doorpost, speechless and motionless. 

Then the good wife of that pious Brahman pitied him, and she thought:"Hunger is a heavy burden. It makes anyone light. Look at this hungryman standing with bowed head at the door. He looks like a pious man whohas come from a far country, and he is tired. Therefore he is a properperson for me to feed. "

So the good woman took in her hands a dish filled with excellent rice, melted butter, and candied sugar, and courteously gave it to him. Andshe said: "Go to the edge of our pond, and eat it. "

He thanked her, took the dish, went a little way, and set it down undera fig-tree on the edge of the pond. Then he washed his hands and feetin the pond, rinsed his mouth, and joyfully drew near to eat the goodfood. 

At that moment a hawk settled on the tree, carrying a black snake inhis beak and claws. And the snake died in the grasp of the hawk, andhis mouth opened, and a stream of poison came out. This poison fellinto the dish of food. 

But Hariswami did not see it. He came up hungry, and ate it all. Andimmediately he felt the terrible effects of the poison. He stammeredout: "Oh, when fate goes wrong, everything goes wrong. Even this riceand the milk and the melted butter and the candied sugar is poison tome. " And he staggered up to the Brahman's wife and said: "Oh, Brahman'swife, I have been poisoned by the food you gave me. Bring apoison-doctor at once. Otherwise you will be the murderer of a Brahman. "

And the good woman was terribly agitated. But while she was runningabout to find a poison-doctor, Hariswami turned up his eyes and died. Thus, though she was not to blame, though she was really charitable, the poor wife was reproached by the angry Brahman who thought she hadmurdered her guest. She was falsely accused for a really good action. So she was dejected and went on a pilgrimage. 

When he had told this story, the goblin said: "O King, who murdered theBrahman? the snake, or the hawk, or the woman who gave him the food, orher husband? This was discussed in the presence of the god of death, but they could not decide. Therefore, O King, do you say. Who killedthe Brahman? Remember the curse, if you know and do not tell the truth. "

Then the king broke silence and said: "Who did the murder? The snakecannot be blamed, because he was being eaten by his enemy and could nothelp himself. The hawk was hungry and saw nothing. He was not to blame. And how can you blame either or both of the charitable people who gavefood to a guest who arrived unexpectedly? They were quite virtuous, andcannot be blamed. I should say that the dead man himself was to blame, for he dared to accuse one of the others. "

When the goblin heard this, he jumped from the king's shoulder andescaped to the sissoo tree. And the king ran after him again, determined to catch him. 

THIRTEENTH GOBLIN

_The Girl who showed Great Devotion to the Thief. Did he weep or laugh?_

Then the king went back to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on hisshoulder, and started. And as he walked along, the goblin said to him:"O King, I will tell you another story. Listen. "

There is a city called Ayodhya, which was once the capital of Rama theexterminator of giants. In this city lived a strong-armed king namedHero-banner who protected the world as a wall protects a city. Duringhis reign a great merchant named Jewel lived in the city. His wife wasnamed Pleasing, and a daughter named Pearl was given to her prayers. 

As the girl grew up in her father's house, her natural virtues grewtoo: beauty, charm, and modesty. And thus she became a young woman. Nowin her young womanhood she was asked in marriage not only by greatmerchants, but even by kings. But she was prudent and did not like men. She would not have loved a god if he had been her husband. She wasready to die at merely hearing talk of her marriage. So her father wassilent on the subject, though his tender love for her made him sad. Andthe story was known everywhere in Ayodhya. 

At this time all the citizens were being plundered by thieves, and theypetitioned King Hero-banner in these words: "O King, we are plunderedevery night by thieves, and cannot catch them. Your Majesty must decidewhat to do. " So the king stationed night-watchmen in hiding about thecity, to search out the thieves. 

When the watchmen failed to catch the thieves for all their searching, the king himself took his sword, and wandered about alone at night. Andhe saw a man creeping along a wall with noiseless steps, often castinga fearful glance behind him. The king concluded that this was the thiefwho all alone robbed the city, and went up to him. And the thief askedhim who he was. The king replied: "I am a thief. "

Then the thief said joyfully: "Good! You are my friend. Come to myhouse. I will treat you like a friend. " So the king agreed and wentwith the thief to a house hidden in a grove and guarded by a wall, fullof delightful and beautiful things, and bright with shining gems. Therethe thief offered the king a seat, and went into an inner room. 

At that moment a serving-maid came into the room and said to the king:"Your Majesty, why have you come into the jaws of death? This wonderfulthief has gone out, intending to do you a mischief. He is certainlytreacherous. Go away quickly. "

So the king quickly went away, returned to the city, and drew up acompany of soldiers. With these soldiers he went and surrounded thehouse where the serving-maid had been. 

When the thief saw that the house was surrounded, he knew that he wasbetrayed, and came out to fight and die like a man. He showed more thanhuman valour. He cut off the trunks of elephants, the legs of horses, and the heads of men; and he was all alone, with only his sword andshield. When the king saw that his army was destroyed, he ran forwardhimself. 

The king was a scientific swordsman, so with a turn of his wrist hesent the sword and the dagger flying from the thief's hand. Then hethrew away his own sword, wrestled with the thief, threw him, and tookhim alive. 

The next morning the thief was led to the place of execution to beimpaled, and the drums were beaten. And Pearl, the merchant's daughter, saw him from her balcony. All bloody and dusty as he was, she went madwith love, found her father, and said to him: "Father, I am going tomarry that thief who is being led to execution. You must save him fromthe king. Otherwise I shall die with him. "

But her father said: "What do you mean, my daughter? That thief stoleeverything the citizens had, and the king's men are going to kill him. How can I save him from the king? Besides, what nonsense are youtalking?" But the more he scolded, the more determined she became. Andas he loved his daughter, he went to the king and offered all he hadfor the release of the thief. 

But the king would not be tempted by millions. He would not release thethief who stole everything, whom he had captured at the risk of hislife. So the father returned home sadly. And the girl, not heeding thearguments of her relatives, took a bath, entered a litter, and went tothe death-scene of the rogue, to die with him. Her parents and herrelatives followed her, weeping. 

At that moment the executioners impaled the thief. As his life ebbedaway, he saw the girl and the people with her, and learned her story. Then the tears rolled down his cheeks, but he died with a smile on hislips. 

The faithful girl took the thief's body from the stake, and mounted thepyre to burn herself. But the blessed god Shiva was staying invisiblyin the cemetery, and at that moment he spoke from the sky: "O faithfulwife, I am pleased with your constancy to the husband of your choice. Choose whatever boon you will from me. "

The girl worshipped the gracious god and chose her boon: "O blessedone, my father has no son. May he have a hundred. Otherwise hischildless life would end when I am gone. "

And the god spoke again from the sky: "O faithful wife, your fathershall have a hundred sons. But choose another boon. A woman faithful asyou are deserves more than the little thing you asked. "

Then she said: "O god, if I have won your favour, may this my husbandlive and always be a good man. "

The invisible Shiva spoke from the sky: "So be it. Your husband shallbe made alive and well. He shall be a good man, and King Hero-bannershall be pleased with him. "

Then the thief arose at once, alive and well. And the merchant Jewelwas overjoyed and astonished. He took Pearl and the thief, hisson-in-law, went home with his rejoicing relatives, and made a feastgreat as his own delight, in honour of the sons he was to have. 

And the king was pleased when he learned the story, and in recognitionof the stupendous courage of the thief, he appointed him general atonce. The thief reformed, married the merchant's daughter, and livedhappily with her, devoted to virtue. 

When the goblin had told this story, he reminded the king of the curse, and said: "O king, when the thief on the stake saw the merchant'sdaughter approaching with her father, did he weep or laugh? Tell me. "

And the king answered: "He thought: I can make no return to thismerchant for his unselfish friendship. ' Therefore he wept from grief. And he also thought: Why does this girl reject kings and fall in lovewith a thief like me? How strange women are!' Therefore he laughed fromastonishment. "

When the goblin heard this, he immediately slipped from the king'sshoulder and escaped to his home. But the king was not discouraged. Hefollowed him to the sissoo tree. 

FOURTEENTH GOBLIN

_The Man who changed into a Woman at Will. Was his wife his or the otherman's?_

So the king went back as before under the sissoo tree, put the goblinon his shoulder, and started toward the monk. And as he walked along, the goblin told the king a story. 

There was a city called Shivapur in Nepal. Long ago a king namedGlory-banner lived there, and he deserved the name. He laid the burdenof government on his counsellor named Ocean-of-Wisdom, and devotedhimself to a life of pleasure with his wife Moonbright. 

In course of time a daughter named Moonlight was born to them, pleasingas the moonlight to the eyes of men. When she grew up, she went one dayin spring with her servants to a festival in the garden. 

There she was seen by a Brahman youth named Master-mind, the son ofRich, who had come there to the festival. When he saw her pluckingflowers with one arm uplifted, he went mad with love. His heart wastaken captive by the gay maiden, and he was no longer master of hismind. 

He thought: "Is she the goddess of love, plucking the spring flowers inperson? Or is she a forest goddess, come here to worship thespring-time?"

Then the princess saw him, like a new god of love incarnate. The momenther eyes fell on him, she fell in love, forgetting her flowers and evenher own limbs. While they looked at each other, lost in love likepeople in a picture, a great wail of anguish arose. They lifted theirheads to learn what the matter was, and just then an elephant that hadbroken his chain, maddened by the scent of another mad elephant, cameby, crushing the people in his path. He had thrown off his driver andthe ankus hung from him as he ran. And everyone fled in terror. 

But the youth Master-mind ran up in a hurry and took the princess inhis arms. And with a mixture of fear and love and modesty she halfembraced him as he carried her far out of the elephant's path. Then herpeople gradually gathered, and she went to the palace, looking at theyouth, and burning over the flame of love. 

And the youth went home from the garden, and thought: "I cannot live, Icannot exist a moment without her. I must seek help from my teacherRoot, who is a thorough rogue. " And so the day slowly passed. 

The next morning he went to his teacher Root, and found him with hisconstant friend Moon. He drew near, bowed, and told his desire. And theteacher laughed and promised to help him. 

So that wonderful rogue put a magic pill in his mouth, and thus changedhimself into an old Brahman. He put a second pill into Master-mind'smouth, which changed him into a lovely girl. Then that prince of roguestook him to the king and said: "O King, this maiden has come a longdistance to marry my only son. But my son has gone away, and I am goingto look for him. Please keep the girl. For you are a protector to betrusted while I am looking for my son. "

The king was afraid of a curse, so he promised to do it. And summoninghis daughter, he said: "Daughter, keep this maiden in your chamber, andlet her live with you. " So the girl took the Brahman youth Master-mindin his girl form to her own apartments. 

When Root had gone away, Master-mind in his girl form lived with hisbeloved, and in a few days came to know her in an intimate and lovingway, as girl friends do. Then when he saw that she was pining away andtossing on her couch, he asked the princess one evening: "My dear girl, why do you grow pale and thin day by day, grieving as if separated fromyour love? Tell me. Why not trust a loving, innocent girl like me? Ifyou will not tell me, I shall starve myself. "

And the princess trusted him and said after a little hesitation: "Mydear girl, why should I not trust you? Listen. I will tell you. One dayI went to the spring festival in the garden. There I saw a handsomeBrahman youth, fair as the moon but not so cold, the sight of whomkindled my love. For he adorned the garden as the spring-time does. While my eager eyes were feasting on his face, a great mad elephantthat had broken his chain came charging and thundering past like ablack cloud in the dry season. My servants scattered in terror, and Iwas helpless. But the Brahman youth took me in his arms and carried mefar away. I seemed to be in a sandal bath, in a stream of nectar. Icannot tell how I felt as I touched him. Presently my servants gatheredaround, and I was brought here helpless. I felt as if I had fallen fromheaven to earth. From that day I see in my thoughts my dear preserverbeside me. I embrace him in my dreams. What need of more words? I wearaway the time, thinking constantly of him and only him. The fire ofseparation from the lord of my life devours me day and night. "

When Master-mind heard these welcome words, he rejoiced and countedhimself happy. And thinking the time to reveal himself had come, hetook the pill from his mouth, and disclosed his natural form. And hesaid: "Beautiful maiden, I am he whom you bought and enslaved with akindly glance in the garden. I was sick at the separation from you; soI took the form of a girl, and came here. So now bring heaven in aloving glance to my love-tortured heart. "

When the princess saw that the lord of her life was beside her, she wastorn between love and wonder and modesty, and did not know what sheought to do. So they were secretly married and lived there in supremehappiness. Master-mind lived in a double form. By day he was a girlwith the pill in his mouth, by night a man without the pill. 

After a time the brother-in-law of King Glory-banner gave his daughterwith great pomp to a Brahman, the son of the counsellorOcean-of-Wisdom. And the princess Moonlight was invited to her cousin'swedding and went to her uncle's house. And Master-mind went with her inhis girl form. 

When the counsellor's son saw Master-mind in his lovely girl form, hewas terribly smitten with the arrows of love. His heart was stolen bythe sham girl, and he went home feeling lonely even with his wife. Itmade him crazy to think of that lovely face. When his father tried tosoothe him, he woke from his madness and stammered out his insanedesire. And his father was terribly distressed, knowing that all thisdepended on another. 

Then the king learned the story and came there. When the king saw hiscondition and perceived that he was seven parts gone in love, he said:"How can I give him the girl who was intrusted to me by the Brahman?Yet without her he will be ten parts gone in love, and will die. And ifhe dies, then his father, the counsellor, will die too. And if thecounsellor perishes, my kingdom will perish. What shall I do?"

He consulted his counsellors, and they said: "Your Majesty, the firstduty of a king is the preservation of the virtue of his people. This isthe fundamental principle, and is established as such amongcounsellors. If the counsellor is lost, the fundamental principle islost; how then can virtue be preserved? So in this case it would besinful to destroy the counsellor through his son. You must by all meansavoid the loss of virtue which would ensue. Give the Brahman's girl tothe counsellor's son. And when the Brahman returns, further measureswill suggest themselves. "

To this the king agreed, and promised to give the sham girl to thecounsellor's son. So Master-mind in his girl form was brought from thechamber of the princess, and he said to the king: "Your Majesty, I wasbrought here by somebody for a given purpose. If you give me tosomebody else, well and good. You are the king. Right and wrong dependon you. I will marry him to-day, but only on one condition. My husbandshall go away immediately after the marriage and not return until hehas been on a pilgrimage for six months. Otherwise I shall bite out mytongue. "

So the counsellor's son was summoned, and he joyfully assented. He madethe man his wife at once, put the sham wife in a guarded room andstarted on a pilgrimage. So Master-mind lived there in his woman form. 

When he realized that the counsellor's son would soon return, Master-mind fled by night. And Root heard the story, and again assumedthe form of an old Brahman. He took his friend Moon, went toGlory-banner, and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I have brought myson. Pray give me my daughter-in-law. "

The king was afraid of a curse, so he said: "Brahman, I do not knowwhere your daughter-in-law has gone. Be merciful. To atone for mycarelessness, I will give your son my own daughter. "

The prince of rogues in the form of an old Brahman angrily refused. Butthe king finally persuaded him, and with all due form married hisdaughter Moonlight to Moon, who pretended to be the old Brahman's son. Then Root went home with the bride and bridegroom. 

But then Master-mind came, and in the presence of Root, a great disputearose between him and Moon. 

Master-mind said: "Moonlight should be given to me. I married the girlfirst with my teacher's permission. "

Moon said: "Fool! What rights have you in my wife? Her father gave herto me in regular marriage. "

So they disputed about the princess whom one had won by fraud and theother by force. But they could reach no decision. 

O King, tell me. Whose wife is she? Resolve my doubts, and remember theagreement about your head. 

Then the king said: "I think she is the rightful wife of Moon. For shewas married to him in the regular way by her father in the presence ofher relatives. Master-mind married her secretly, like a thief. And whena thief takes things from other people, it is never right. "

When the goblin heard this, he went back home as before. And the kingstuck to his purpose. He went back again, put the goblin on hisshoulder, and started from the sissoo tree. 

FIFTEENTH GOBLIN

_The Fairy Prince Cloud-chariot and the Serpent Shell-crest. Which isthe more self-sacrificing?_

So the king walked along with the goblin. And the goblin said: "O king, listen to a story the like of which was never heard. "

There is a mountain called Himalaya where all gems are found. It is theking of mountains. Its proud loftiness is everywhere the theme of song. The sun himself has not seen its top. 

On its summit is a city called Golden City, brilliant like a heap ofsunbeams left in trust by the sun. There lived a glorious fairy-kingnamed Cloud-banner. In the garden of his palace was a wishing-treewhich had come down to him from his ancestors. 

King Cloud-banner had worshipped the tree which was really a god, andby its grace had obtained a son named Cloud-chariot. This sonremembered his former lives. He was destined to be a Buddha in a futurelife. He was generous, noble, merciful to all creatures, and obedientto his parents. 

When he grew up, the king anointed him crown prince, persuaded theretoby his counsellors as well as by the remarkable virtues of the youth. While Cloud-chariot was crown prince, his father's counsellors came tohim one day and kindly said: "Crown prince, you must always honour thiswishing-tree in your garden; for it yields all desires, and cannot betaken away by anybody. As long as it is favourably disposed to us, theking of the gods could not conquer us, and of course nobody else could. "

Then Cloud-chariot thought: "Alas! The men of old had this heavenlytree, yet they did not pluck from it any worthy fruit. They weremean-spirited. They simply begged it for some kind of wealth. And sothey degraded themselves and the great tree too. But I will get from itthe wish which is in my heart. "

With this thought the noble creature went to his father. He showed suchcomplete deference as to delight his father, then when his father wascomfortably seated, he whispered: "Father, you know yourself that inthis sea of life all possessions, including our own bodies, areuncertain as a rippling wave. Especially is money fleeting, uncertain, fickle as the twilight lightning. The only thing in life which does notperish is service. This gives birth to virtue and glory, twin witnessesthrough all the ages to come. Father! Why do we keep such awishing-tree for the sake of transient blessings? Our ancestors clungto it, saying: It is mine, it is mine. ' And where are they now? Whatis it to them, or they to it? Then, if you bid me, I will beg thisgenerous wishing-tree for the one fruit that counts, the fruit ofservice to others. "

His father graciously assented, and Cloud-chariot went to thewishing-tree, and said: "O god, you have fulfilled the wishes of ourfathers. Fulfil now my one single wish. Remove poverty from the world. A blessing be with you. Go. I give you to the needy world. " And asCloud-chariot bowed reverently, there came a voice from the tree: "Igo, since you give me up. " And the wishing-tree immediately flew fromheaven and rained so much money on the earth that nobody was poor. AndCloud-chariot's reputation for universal benevolence was spread about. 

But all the relatives were jealous and envious. They thought that theycould easily conquer Cloud-chariot and his father without thewishing-tree, and they prepared to fight to take away his kingdom. ButCloud-chariot said to his father: "Father, how can you take yourweapons and fight? What high-minded man would want a kingdom afterkilling his relatives just for the sake of this wretched, perishablebody? Let us abandon the kingdom, and go away somewhere to devoteourselves entirely to virtue. Then we shall be blessed in both worlds. And let these wretched relatives enjoy the kingdom which they hankerafter. "

And Cloud-banner said: "My son, I only want the kingdom for you, and ifyou give it up from benevolent motives, what good is it to me? I am anold man. "

So Cloud-chariot left the kingdom and went with his father and motherto the Malabar hills. There he built a hermit's retreat, and waited onhis parents. 

One day, as he wandered about, he met Friend-wealth, the son ofAll-wealth, who lived there as king of the Siddhas. And Cloud-chariotspoke to him and made friends with him. 

Then one day Cloud-chariot saw a shrine to the goddess Gauri in thegrove, and entered there. And he saw a slender, lovely maidensurrounded by her girl friends and playing on a lute, in honour ofGauri. The deer listened to her music and her song, motionless as ifashamed because her eyes were lovelier than their own. WhenCloud-chariot saw the slender maiden, his heart was ravished. 

And he seemed to her to make the garden beautiful like the spring-time. A strange longing came over her. She became so helpless that herfriends were alarmed. 

Then Cloud-chariot asked one of her friends: "My good girl, what isyour friend's sweet name? What family does she adorn?"

And the friend said: "This is Sandal, sister of Friend-wealth, anddaughter of the king of the Siddhas. " Then she earnestly asked for thename and family of Cloud-Chariot from a hermit's son who had come withhim. And then she spoke to Sandal with words punctuated by smiles: "Mydear, why do you not show hospitality to the fairy prince? He is aguest whom all the world would be glad to honour. "

But the bashful princess remained silent with downcast eyes. Then thefriend said: "She is bashful. Accept a hospitable greeting from me. "And she gave him a garland. 

Cloud-chariot, far gone in love, took the garland and put it aroundSandal's neck. And the loving, sidelong glance which she gave himseemed like another garland of blue lotuses. So they pledged themselveswithout speaking a word. 

Then a serving-maid came and said to the princess: "Princess, yourmother remembers you. Come at once. " And she went slowly, after drawingfrom her lover's face a passionate glance, for which Love's arrow hadwedged a path. And Cloud-chariot went to the hermitage, thinking ofher; while she, sick with the separation from the lord of her life, sawher mother, then tottered to her bed and fell upon it. Her eyes wereblinded as if by smoke from the fire of love within her, her limbstossed in fever, she shed tears. And though her friends anointed herwith sandal and fanned her with lotus-leaves, she found no rest on herbed or in the lap of a friend or on the ground. 

Then when the day fled away with the passionate red twilight, and themoon drew near to kiss the face of the laughing East, she despaired oflife, and her modesty would not let her send a message in spite of allher love. But somehow she lived through the night. And Cloud-chariottoo was in anguish at the separation. Even in his bed he was falleninto the hand of Love. Though his passion was so recent, he had alreadygrown pale. Though shame kept him silent, his looks told of the pangsof love. And so he passed the night. 

In the morning he arose and went to the shrine of Gauri. And hisfriend, the hermit's son, followed him and tried to comfort him. Atthat moment the lovelorn Sandal came out of her house alone, for shecould not endure the separation, and crept to that lonely spot to endher life there. 

She did not see her lover behind a tree, and with eyes brimming withtears she prayed to the goddess Gauri: "O goddess, since I could not inthis life have Cloud-chariot as my husband, grant that in another lifeat last he may be my husband. "

Then she tied her garment to the limb of an ashoka tree before thegoddess and cried: "Alas, my lord! Alas, Cloud-chariot! They say yourbenevolence is universal. Why did you not save me?"

But as she fastened the garment about her neck, a voice from the skywas heard in the air: "My daughter, do nothing rash. Cloud-chariot, thefuture king of the fairies, shall be your husband. "

And Cloud-chariot heard the heavenly voice, and with his friendapproached his rejoicing sweetheart. The friend said to the girl: "Hereis the gift which the goddess grants you. " And Cloud-chariot spoke morethan one tender word and loosed the garment from her neck with his ownhand. 

Then a girl friend who had been gathering flowers there and had seenwhat was happening, came up joyfully and said, while Sandal's modesteyes seemed to be tracing a figure on the ground: "My dear, Icongratulate you. Your wish is granted. This very day PrinceFriend-wealth said in my presence to King All-wealth, your father:Father, the fairy prince, who deserves honour from all the world, whogave away the wishing-tree, is here, and we should treat him as anhonoured guest. We could not find another bridegroom like him. So letus welcome him with the gift of Sandal who is a pearl of a girl. ' Andthe king agreed, and your brother Friend-wealth has this moment gone tothe hermitage of the noble prince. I think your marriage will soon takeplace. So go to your chamber, and let the noble prince go to hishermitage. "

So she went slowly and happily and lovingly. And Cloud-chariot hastenedto the hermitage. There he greeted Friend-wealth and heard his message, and told him about his own birth and former life. Then Friend-wealthwas delighted and told Cloud-chariot's parents who were also delighted. Then he went home and made his own parents happy with the news. 

That very day he invited Cloud-chariot to his home. And they made agreat feast as was proper, and married the fairy prince and Sandal onthe spot. Then Cloud-chariot was completely happy and spent some timethere with his bride Sandal. 

One day he took a walk for pleasure about the hills with Friend-wealth, and came to the seashore. There he saw great heaps of bones, and heasked Friend-wealth: "What creatures did these heaps of bones belongto?" His brother-in-law Friend-wealth said to the merciful prince:"Listen, my friend. I will tell you the story briefly. "

Long ago Kadru, the mother of the serpents, made a wager with her rivalVinata, the mother of the great bird Garuda. She won the wager andenslaved her rival. Now Garuda's anger continued even after he hadfreed his mother from slavery. He kept going into the underworld whereKadru's offspring, the serpents, live, to eat them. Some he killed, others he crushed. 

Then Vasuki, king of the serpents, feared that in time all would belost if the serpents were all to be slain thus. So he made an agreementwith Garuda. He said: "O king of birds, I will send one serpent everyday to the shore of the southern sea for you to eat. But you are neverto enter the underworld again. What advantage would it be to you if allthe serpents were slain at once?" And Garuda agreed, with an eye to hisown advantage. 

Since that time Garuda every day eats the snake sent by Vasuki here onthe seashore. And these heaps of bones from the serpents that have beeneaten, have in time formed a regular mountain. 

When Cloud-chariot heard this story from the lips of Friend-wealth, hewas deeply grieved and said: "My friend, wretched indeed is that kingVasuki who deliberately sacrifices his own subjects to their enemy. Heis a coward. He has a thousand heads, yet could not find a single mouthto say: O Garuda, eat me first. ' How could he be so mean as to begGaruda to destroy his own race? Or how can Garuda, the heavenly bird, do such a crime? Oh, insolent madness!"

So the noble Cloud-chariot made up his mind that he would use his poorbody that day to save the life of one serpent at least. At that momenta door-keeper, sent by Friend-wealth's father, came to summon themhome. And Cloud-Chariot said: "Do you go first. I will follow. " So hedismissed Friend-wealth, and remained there himself. 

As he walked about waiting for the thing he hoped for, he heard apitiful sound of weeping at a distance. He went a little way and sawnear a lofty rock a sorrowful, handsome youth. He was at that momentabandoned by a creature that seemed to be a policeman, and was gentlypersuading his old, weeping mother to return. And Cloud-chariot wishedto know who it might be. So he hid himself and listened, his heartmelting with pity. 

The old mother was bowed down by anguish, and started to lament overthe youth. "Oh, Shell-crest! Oh, my virtuous son, whom I fondled, notcounting the labour and the pain! Oh, my son, my only son! Where shallI see you again? Oh, my darling! When your bright face is gone, yourold father will fall into black despair. How can he live then? Yourtender form is hurt by the rays of the sun. How can it bear the pangsof being eaten by Garuda? Oh, my unhappy fate! Why did the Creator andthe serpent-king choose my only son from the broad serpent-world, andseize upon him?"

And as she lamented, the youth, her son, said: "Mother, I am unhappyenough. Why torture me yet more? Return home. For the last time I bowbefore you. It is time for Garuda to come. "

And the mother cried: "Alas, alas for me! Who will save my son?" Andshe gazed about wildly and wept aloud. 

All this Cloud-chariot, the future Buddha, saw and heard. And with deeppity he thought: "Alas! This is a serpent named Shell-crest, sent hereby Vasuki for Garuda to eat. And this is his mother, following him outof her great love. He is her only son, and she is mourning in pain andbitter anguish. I should forever curse my useless life if I did notsave one in such agony at the cost of a body which must perish anywaysome day. "

So Cloud-chariot joyfully approached and said to the old mother:"Serpent-mother, I will save your son. Do not weep. "

But the old mother thought that this was Garuda, and she screamed: "OGaruda, eat me! Eat me!"

Then Shell-crest said: "Mother, this is not Garuda. Do not be alarmed. What a difference between one who soothes our feelings like the moon, and the fearful Garuda. "

And Cloud-chariot said: "Mother, I am a fairy, come to save your son. Iwill put on his garment and offer my own body to the hungry bird. Doyou take your son and go home. "

But the old mother said: "No, no. You are more than a son to me. Tothink that such as you should feel pity for such as we!"

And Cloud-chariot answered: "Mother, I beg you not to disappoint me. "But when he insisted, Shell-crest said: "Noble being, you havecertainly shown compassion, but I do not wish to save my body at theexpense of yours. Who would save a common stone at the cost of a pearl?The world is full of creatures like me, who are merciful only tothemselves. But creatures like you, who are merciful to all the world, are very rare. Oh, pious being, I could not stain the pure family ofShell-guard, as the dark spot stains the disk on the moon. "

Then Shell-crest said to his mother: "Mother, return from this desolateplace. Do you not see the rock of sacrifice wet with the blood ofserpents, the terrible plaything of Death? I will go for a moment tothe shore and worship the god Shiva there. And I will return quicklybefore Garuda comes. "

So Shell-crest took leave of his mother and went to worship Shiva. AndCloud-chariot thought: "If Garuda should come in this interval, Ishould be happy. "

Then he saw the trees stiffening themselves against the wind made bythe sweeping wings of the king of birds. "Garuda is coming, " hethought, and climbed the rock of sacrifice, eager to give his life foranother. 

And Garuda straightway pounced upon the noble creature and lifted himfrom the rock in his beak. While Cloud-chariot's blood flowed instreams and the gem fell from his forehead, Garuda carried him off andbegan to eat him on the summit of the Malabar hills. And while he wasbeing eaten, Cloud-chariot thought: "In every future life of mine maymy body do some good to somebody. I would not attain heaven andsalvation without doing some good first. " Then a shower of flowers fellfrom heaven on the fairy prince. 

At that moment the blood-stained gem from his forehead fell in front ofhis wife Sandal. She was in anguish at the sight, and as herparents-in-law were near, she tearfully showed it to them. And theywere alarmed at the sight of their son's gem and wondered what itmeant. Then King Cloud-banner discovered the truth by his magic arts, and he and his queen started to run with Cloud-chariot's wife Sandal. 

At that moment Shell-crest returned from his worship of Shiva. He sawthe rock stained with blood, and cried: "Alas for me, poor sinner!Surely that noble, merciful creature has given his body to Garuda inplace of mine. I must find him. Where has the great being been carriedby my enemy? If I find him alive, then I shall not sink into the sloughof infamy. " So he followed weeping the broad trail of blood. 

Now Garuda noticed that Cloud-chariot was happy while being eaten, andhe thought: "This must be some strange, great being, for he is happywhile I am eating him. He does not die, and what remains of him isthrilled with delight. And he turns a gracious, benevolent look uponme. Surely, he is no serpent, but some great spirit. I will stop eatinghim and ask him. "

But while he reflected, Cloud-chariot said: "O king of birds, why doyou stop? There is still some flesh and blood on me, and I see that youare not satisfied. Pray continue to eat. "

When the king of birds heard these remarkable words, he said: "You areno serpent. Tell me who you are. "

But Cloud-chariot continued to urge him: "Certainly I am a serpent. What does the question mean? Continue your meal. What fool would begina thing and then stop?"

At that moment Shell-crest shouted from afar: "O Garuda, do not commita great and reckless crime. What madness is this? He is not a serpent. I am the serpent. "

And he ran between them and spoke again to the agitated bird: "OGaruda, what madness is this? Do you not see that I have the hood andthe forked tongue? Do you not see how gentle his appearance is?"

While he was speaking, Cloud-chariot's wife Sandal and his parentshurried up. And when his parents saw how he was lacerated, they weptaloud and lamented: "Alas, my son! Alas, Cloud-chariot! Alas for mymerciful darling, who gave his life for others!"

But when they cried: "Alas, Garuda! How could you do this thoughtlessthing?" then Garuda was filled with remorse and thought: "Alas! Howcould I be mad enough to eat a future Buddha? This must beCloud-chariot, who gives his life for others, whose fame is trumpetedabroad through all the world. If he is dead, I am a sinner, and oughtto burn myself alive. Why does the fruit of the poison-tree of sintaste sweet?"

While Garuda was thus deep in anxious thought, Cloud-chariot saw hisrelatives gathered, fell down, and died from the pain of his wounds. Then, while his grief-stricken parents were loudly lamenting, whileShell-crest was accusing himself, Sandal looked up to heaven and, in avoice stammering with tears, reproached the goddess Gauri who hadgraciously given her this husband: "Oh, Mother! You told me that thefairy prince should be my husband, but it is my fate that you spokefalsely. "

Then Gauri appeared in a visible form, and said: "Daughter, my wordsare not false. " And she sprinkled Cloud-chariot with nectar from a jar. And straightway he stood up alive, unhurt and more beautiful thanbefore. 

As they all bent low in worship, and Cloud-chariot rose only to bendagain, the goddess said: "My son, I am pleased with your gift of yourown body. With my own hand I anoint you king of the fairies. " And sheanointed Cloud-chariot with liquor from the jar, and then disappeared, followed by the worship of the company. And showers of heavenlyblossoms fell from the sky, and the drums of the gods were joyfullybeaten in heaven. 

Then Garuda reverently said to Cloud-chariot: "O King, I am pleasedwith your more than human character. For you have done a strange thingof unparalleled nobility, to be marvelled at throughout the universe, to be written upon the walls of heaven. Therefore I am at your service. Choose from me what boon you will. "

The noble creature said to Garuda: "O Garuda, you must repent and eatno more serpents. And you must restore to life those that you atebefore, who now are nothing but bones. "

And Garuda said: "So be it. I will eat no serpents hereafter. And thosethat I have eaten shall come to life. "

Then all the serpents who had been eaten down to the bones, suddenlystood up. And through the grace of Gauri all the leading fairieslearned immediately the wonderful deed of Cloud-chariot. So they allcame and bowed at his feet and took him, freshly anointed by the veryhand of Gauri, with his rejoicing relatives and friends to the Himalayamountain. There Cloud-chariot lived happily with his father and hismother and his wife Sandal and Friend-wealth and the generousShell-crest. And he ruled the fairy world radiant with gems. 

When the goblin had told this long, strange story, he said to the king:"O King, tell me. Which was the more self-sacrificing, Cloud-chariot orShell-crest? If you know and do not tell, then the curse I mentionedbefore will be fulfilled. "

And the king said: "There was nothing remarkable in what Cloud-chariotdid. He was prepared for it by the experiences of many past lives. ButShell-crest deserves praise. He was saved from death. His enemy hadanother victim, and was far away. Yet he ran after and offered his bodyto Garuda. "

When the goblin heard this, he went back to the sissoo tree. And theking returned to catch him again. 

SIXTEENTH GOBLIN

_The King who died for Love of his General's Wife; the General followshim in Death. Which is the more worthy?_

Then the king went back under the sissoo tree, put the goblin on hisshoulder as before, and started. And the goblin said to him: "O King, Iwill tell you another little story to relieve your weariness. Listen. "

Long ago there was a city named Golden City on the bank of the Ganges, where a quarter of the old perfect virtue still lingers in these evildays. There was a king named Glorious, and he deserved the name. Hisbravery kept the world from being overflowed, like the shore of the sea. 

In this king's city lived a great merchant, who had a daughter namedPassion. Everyone who saw her fell in love and went mad with passion. 

When she grew to be a young woman, the virtuous merchant went to KingGlorious and said: "Your Majesty, I have a daughter, the gem of thethree worlds, and she is old enough to marry. I could not give her toanyone without consulting your Majesty. For you are the master of allgems in the world. Pray marry her and thus lay me under obligations. "

So the king sent his own Brahmans to examine her qualities. But whenthe Brahmans saw her supreme loveliness, they were troubled andthought: "If the king should marry her, his kingdom would be ruined. Hewould think only of her, and would doubtless neglect his kingdom. Therefore we must not report her good qualities to the king. "

So they returned to the king and said: "Your Majesty, she has badqualities. " So the king did not marry the merchant's daughter. But hebade the merchant give his daughter to a general named Force. And shelived happily with her husband in his house. 

After a time the lion of spring came dancing through the forest andslew the elephant of winter. And King Glorious went forth on the backof an elephant to see the spring festival. And the drum was beaten towarn virtuous women to stay within doors. Otherwise they would havefallen in love with his beauty, and love-sickness might be expected. 

But when Passion heard the drum, she did not like to be left alone. Shewent out on the balcony, that the king might see her. She seemed likethe flame of love which the spring-time was fanning with southernbreezes. And the king saw her, and his whole being was shaken. He felther beauty sinking deep in his heart like a victorious arrow of Love, and he fainted. 

His servants brought him back to consciousness, and he returned to thecity. There he made inquiries and learned that this was Passion whom hehad rejected before. So he banished from the country the Brahmans whohad said that she had bad qualities, and he thought longingly of herevery day. 

And as he thought of her, he burned over the flame of love, and wastedaway day and night. And though from shame he tried to conceal it, hefinally told the reason of his anguish to responsible people who askedhim. 

They said: "Do not suffer. Why do you not seize her?" But the virtuousking would not do it. 

Then General Force heard the story. He came and bowed at the feet ofthe king and said: "Your Majesty, she is the wife of your slave, therefore she is your slave. I give her to you of my own accord. Praytake my wife. Or better yet, I will leave her here in the palace. Thenyou cannot be blamed if you marry her. " And the general begged andinsisted. 

But the king became angry and said: "I am a king. How can I do such awicked thing? If I should transgress, who would be virtuous? You aredevoted to me. Why do you urge me to a sin which is pleasant for themoment, but causes great sorrow in the next world? If you abandon yourwedded wife, I shall not pardon you. How could a man in my positionoverlook such a transgression? It is better to die. " Thus the kingargued against it. For the truly great throw away life rather thanvirtue. And when all the citizens came together and urged him, he wassteadfast and refused. 

So he slowly shrivelled away over the fever-flame of love and died. There was nothing left of King Glorious except his glory. And thegeneral could not endure the death of his king. He burned himselfalive. The actions of devoted men are blameless. 

When the goblin on the king's shoulder had told this story, he askedthe king: "O King, which of these two, the king and the general, wasthe more deserving? Remember the curse before you answer. "

The king said: "I think the king was the more deserving. "

And the goblin said reproachfully: "O King, why was not the generalbetter? He offered the king a wife like that, whose charms he knew froma long married life. And when his king died, he burned himself like afaithful man. But the king gave her up without really knowing herattractions. "

Then the king laughed and said: "True enough, but not surprising. Thegeneral was a gentleman born, and acted as he did from devotion to hissuperior. For servants must protect their masters even at the cost oftheir own lives. But kings are like mad elephants who cannot be goadedinto obedience, who break the binding-chain of virtue. They areinsolent, and their judgment trickles from them with the holy water ofconsecration. Their eyes are blinded by the hurricane of power, andthey do not see the road. From the most ancient times, even the kingswho conquered the world have been maddened by love and have fallen intomisfortune. But this king, though he ruled the whole world, though hewas maddened by the girl Passion, preferred to die rather than set hisfoot on the path of iniquity. He was a hero. He was the better of thetwo. "

Then the goblin escaped by magic from the king's shoulder and wentback. And the king pursued him, undiscouraged. No great man stops inthe middle of the hardest undertaking. 

SEVENTEENTH GOBLIN

_The Youth who went through the Proper Ceremonies. Why did he fail towin the magic spell?_

Then the king went back through the night to the cemetery filled withghouls, terrible with funeral piles that seemed like ghosts withwagging tongues of flame. But when he came to the sissoo tree, he wassurprised to see a great many bodies hanging on the tree. They were allalike, and in each was a goblin twitching its limbs. 

And the king thought: "Ah, what does this mean? Why does that magicgoblin keep wasting my time? For I do not know which of all these Iought to take. If I should not succeed in this night's endeavour, thenI would burn myself alive rather than become a laughing-stock. "

But the goblin understood the king's purpose, and was pleased with hischaracter. So he gave up his magic arts. Then the king saw only onegoblin in one body. He took him down as before, put him on hisshoulder, and started once more. 

And as he walked along, the goblin said: "O King, if you have noobjections, I will tell you a story. Listen. "

There is a city called Ujjain, whose people delight in noble happiness, and feel no longing for heaven. In that city there is real darkness atnight, real intelligence in poetry, real madness in elephants, realcoolness in pearls, sandal, and moonlight. 

There lived a king named Moonshine. He had as counsellor a famousBrahman named Heaven-lord, rich in money, rich in piety, rich inlearning. And the counsellor had a son named Moon-lord. 

This son went one day to a great resort of gamblers to play. There thedice, beautiful as the eyes of gazelles, were being thrown constantly. And Calamity seemed to be looking on, thinking: "Whom shall I embrace?"And the loud shouts of angry gamblers seemed to suggest the question:"Who is there that would not be fleeced here, were he the god of wealthhimself?"

This hall the youth entered, and played with dice. He staked hisclothes and everything else, and the gamblers won it all. Then hewagered money he did not have, and lost that. And when they asked himto pay, he could not. So the gambling-master caught him and beat himwith clubs. 

When he was bruised all over by the clubs, the Brahman youth becamemotionless like a stone, and pretended to be dead, and waited. After hehad lain thus for two or three days, the heartless gambling-master saidto the gamblers: "He lies like a stone. Take him somewhere and throwhim into a blind well. I will pay you the money he owes. "

So the gamblers picked Moon-lord up and went far into the forest, looking for a well. Then one old gambler said to the others: "He is asgood as dead. What is the use of throwing him into a well now? We willleave him here and go back and say we have left him in a well. " And allthe rest agreed, and left him there, and went back. 

When they were gone, Moon-lord rose and entered a deserted temple toShiva. When he had rested a little there, he thought in great anguish:"Ah, I trusted the rascally gamblers, and they cheated me. Where shallI go now, naked and dusty as I am? What would my father say if he sawme now, or any relative, or any friend? I will stay here for thepresent, and at night I will go out and try to find food somehow toappease my hunger. "

While he reflected in weariness and nakedness, the sun grew less hotand disappeared. Then a terrible hermit named Stake came there, and hehad smeared his body with ashes. When he had seen Moon-lord and askedwho he was and heard his story, he said, as the youth bent low beforehim: "Sir, you have come to my hermitage, a guest fainting with hunger. Rise, bathe, and partake of the meal I have gained by begging. "

Then Moon-lord said to him: "Holy sir, I am a Brahman. How can Ipartake of such a meal?"

Then the hermit-magician went into his hut and out of tenderness to hisguest he thought of a magic spell which grants all desires. And thespell appeared in bodily form, and said: "What shall I do?" And thehermit said: "Treat that man as an honoured guest. "

Then Moon-lord was astonished to see a golden palace rise before himand a grove with women in it. They came to him from the palace andsaid: "Sir, rise, come, bathe, eat, and meet our mistress. " So they ledhim in and gave him a chance to bathe and anoint himself and dress. Then they led him to another room. 

There the youth saw a woman of wonderful beauty, whom the Creator musthave made to see what he could do. She rose and offered him half of herseat. And he ate heavenly food and various fruits and chewed betelleaves and sat happily with her on the couch. 

In the morning he awoke and saw the temple to Shiva, but the heavenlycreature was gone, and the palace, and the women in it. So he went outin distress, and the hermit in his hut smiled and asked him how he hadspent the night. And he said: "Holy sir, through your kindness I spenta happy night, but I shall die without that heavenly creature. "

Then the hermit laughed and said: "Stay here. You shall have the samehappiness again to-night. " So Moon-lord enjoyed those delights everynight through the favour of the hermit. 

Finally Moon-lord came to see what a mighty spell that was. So, drivenon by his fate, he respectfully begged the hermit: "Holy sir, if youreally feel pity for a poor suppliant like me, teach me that spellwhich has such power. "

And when he insisted, the hermit said: "You could never win the spell. One has to stand in the water to win it. And it weaves a net of magicto bewilder the man who is repeating the words, so that he cannot winit. For as he mumbles it, he seems to lead another life, first a baby, then a boy, then a youth, then a husband, then a father. And he falselyimagines that such and such people are his friends, such and such hisenemies. He forgets his real life and his desire to win the spell. Butif a man mumbles it constantly for twenty-four years, and remembers hisown life, and is not deceived by the network of magic, and then at theend burns himself alive, he comes out of the water, and has real magicpower. It comes only to a good pupil, and if a teacher tries to teachit to a bad pupil, the teacher loses it too. Now you have the realbenefit through my magic power. Why insist on more? If I lost mypowers, then your happiness would go too. "

But Moon-lord said: "I can do anything. Do not fear, holy sir. " And thehermit promised to teach him the spell. What will holy men not do outof regard to those who seek aid?

So the hermit went to the river bank, and said: "My son, mumble thewords of the spell. And while you are leading an imaginary life, youwill at last be awakened by my magic. Then plunge into the magic firewhich you will see. I will stand here on the bank while you mumble it. "

So he purified himself and purified Moon-lord and made him sip water, and then he taught him the magic spell. And Moon-lord bowed to histeacher on the bank, and plunged into the river. 

And as he mumbled the words of the spell in the water, he wasbewildered by its magic. He forgot all about his past life, and wentthrough another life. He was born in another city as the son of aBrahman. Then he grew up, was consecrated, and went to school. Then hetook a wife, and after many experiences half pleasant, half painful, hefound himself the father of a family. Then he lived for some years withhis parents and his relatives, devoted to wife and children, andinterested in many things. 

While he was experiencing all these labours of another life, the hermittook pity on him and repeated magic words to enlighten him. AndMoon-lord was enlightened in the midst of his new life. He rememberedhimself and his teacher, and saw that the other life was a network ofmagic. So he prepared to enter the fire in order to win magic power. 

But older people and reliable people and his parents and his relativestried to prevent him. In spite of them he hankered after heavenlypleasures, and went to the bank of a river where a funeral pile hadbeen made ready. And his relatives went with him. But when he got therehe saw that his old parents and his wife and his little children wereweeping. 

And he was perplexed, and thought: "Alas! If I enter the fire, allthese my own people will die. And I do not know whether my teacher'spromise will come true or not. Shall I go into the fire, or go home?No, no. How could a teacher with such powers promise falsely? Indeed, Imust enter the fire. " And he did. 

And he was astonished the feel the fire as cool as snow, and lost hisfear of it. Then he came out of the water of the river, and foundhimself on the bank. He saw his teacher standing there, and fell at hisfeet, and told him the whole story, ending with the blazing funeralpile. 

Then his teacher said: "My son, I think you must have made somemistake. Otherwise, why did the fire seem cool to you? That neverhappens in the winning of this magic spell. "

And Moon-lord said: "Holy sir, I do not remember making any mistake. "Then his teacher was eager to know about it, so he tried to rememberthe spell himself. But it would not come to him or to his pupil. Sothey went away sad, having lost their magic. 

When the goblin had told this story, he asked the king: "O King, explain the matter to me. Why did they lose their magic, wheneverything had been done according to precept?"

Then the king said: "O magic creature, I see that you are only tryingto waste my time. Still, I will tell you. Magic powers do not come to aman because he does things that are hard, but because he does thingswith a pure heart. The Brahman youth was defective at that point. Hehesitated even when his mind was enlightened. Therefore he failed towin the magic. And the teacher lost his magic because he taught it toan unworthy pupil. "

Then the goblin went back to his home. And the king ran to find him, never hesitating. 

EIGHTEENTH GOBLIN

_The Boy whom his Parents, the King, and the Giant conspired to Kill. Why did he laugh at the moment of death?_

Then the king went to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on his shoulderas before, and started in silence. And the goblin on his shoulder sawthat he was silent and said: "O King, why are you so obstinate? Gohome. Spend the night in rest. You ought not to take me to thatrascally monk. But if you insist, then I will tell you another story. Listen. "

There is a city called Brilliant-peak. There lived a glorious kingnamed Moon, who delighted the eyes of his subjects. Wise men said thathe was brave, generous, and the very home of beauty. But in spite ofall his wealth, he was very sad at heart. For he found no wife worthyof him. 

One day this king went with soldiers on horseback into a great wood, tohunt there and forget his sorrow. There he split open many boars withhis arrows as the sun splits the black darkness, and made fierce lionsinto cushions for his arrows, and slew mountainous monsters with histerrible darts. 

As he hunted, he spurred his horse and beat him terribly. And the horsewas so hurt by the spur and the whip that he could not tell rough fromsmooth. He dashed off quicker than the wind, and in a moment carriedthe king into another forest a hundred miles away. 

There the king lost his way, and as he wandered about wearily, he saw agreat lake. He stopped there, unsaddled his horse, let him bathe anddrink, and found him some grass in the shade of the trees. Then hebathed and drank himself, and when he had rested, he looked all abouthim. 

And he saw a hermit's daughter of marvellous beauty under an ashokatree with another girl. She had no ornaments but flowers. She wascharming even in a dress of bark. She was particularly attractivebecause of her thick masses of hair arranged in a girlish way. 

And the king fell in love with her and thought: "Who is she? Is she agoddess come to bathe in these waters? Or Gauri, separated from herhusband Shiva, leading a hard life to win him again? Or the lovelymoon, taking a human form, and trying to be attractive in the daytime?I will go to her and find out. "

So he drew near to her. And when she saw him coming, she was astonishedat his beauty and dropped her hands, which had been weaving a garlandof flowers. And she thought: "Who can he be in this forest? Some fairyperhaps. Blessed are my eyes this day. "

So she rose, modestly looking another way, and started to go away, though her limbs failed her. Then the king approached and said:"Beautiful maiden, I have come a long distance, and you never saw mebefore. I ask only to look at you, and you should welcome me. Is thishermit manners, to run away?"

Then her clever friend made the king sit down and treated him as anhonoured guest. And the king respectfully asked her: "My good girl, what happy family does your friend adorn? What are the syllables of hername, which must be a delight to the ear? Or why at her age does shetorture a body as delicate as a flower with a hermit's life in a lonelywood?"

And the friend answered: "Your Majesty, she is the daughter of thehermit Kanva and the heavenly nymph Menaka. She grew up here in thehermitage, and her name is Lotus-bloom. With her father's permissionshe came here to the lake to bathe. And her father's hermitage is notfar from here. "

Then the king was delighted. He mounted his horse and rode to thehermitage of holy Kanva, to ask for the girl. And he entered thehermitage in modest garb, leaving his horse outside. Then he wassurrounded by hermits with hoary crowns and bark garments like thetrees, and saw the sage Kanva radiant and cool like the moon. And hedrew near and fell at his feet. 

And the wise hermit greeted him and let him rest, then said: "My sonMoon, I will tell you something to your advantage. Listen. I know whatfear of death there is in mortal creatures. Why then do you uselesslykill the wild beasts? Warriors were made by the Creator to protect thetimid. Therefore protect your subjects in righteousness, and root outevil. As Happiness flees before you, strive to overtake her with allyour means, elephants and horses and things. Enjoy your kingship. Begenerous. Become glorious. Abandon this vice of hunting, this sport ofDeath. For slayer and slain are equally deceived. Why spend your timein such an evil pursuit?"

The sensible king was pleased and said: "Holy sir, I am instructed. Andgreat is my gratitude for this instruction. From now on I hunt no more. Let the wild animals live without fear. "

Then the hermit said: "I am pleased with your protection of theanimals. Choose any boon you will. "

Then the quick-witted king said: "Holy sir, if you are kindly disposed, give me your daughter Lotus-bloom. "

So the hermit gave him his daughter, the child of the nymph, who thencame up after her bath. So they were married, and the king worecheerful garments, and Lotus-bloom was adorned by the hermits' wives. And the weeping hermits accompanied them in procession to the edge ofthe hermitage. Then the king took his wife Lotus-bloom, mounted hishorse, and started for his city. 

At last the sun, seeing the king tired with his long journeying, sankwearily behind the western mountain. And fawn-eyed night appeared, cladin the garment of darkness, like a woman going to meet her lover. Andthe king saw an ashvattha tree on the shore of a pond in a spot coveredwith grass and twigs, and he decided to spend the night there. 

So he dismounted, fed and watered his horse, brought water from thepond, and rested with his beloved. And they passed the night there. 

In the morning he arose, performed his devotions, and prepared to setout with his wife to rejoin his soldiers. Then, like a cloud black assoot with tawny lightning-hair, there appeared a great giant. He wore achaplet of human entrails, a cord of human hair, he was chewing thehead of a man, and drinking blood from a skull. 

The giant laughed aloud, spit fire in his wrath, and showed hisdreadful fangs. And he scolded the king and said: "Scoundrel! I am agiant named Flame-face. This tree is my home; even the gods do not dareto trespass here. But you and your wife have trespassed and enjoyedyourselves. Now swallow your own impudence, you rascal! You arelovesick, so I will split open your heart and eat it, and I will drinkyour blood. "

The king was frightened when he saw that the giant was invincible, andhis wife was trembling, so he said respectfully: "I trespassedignorantly. Forgive me. I am your guest, seeking protection in yourhermitage. And I will give you a human sacrifice, so that you will besatisfied. Be merciful then and forget your anger. "

Then the giant forgot his anger, and thought: "Very well. Why not?" Andhe said: "O King, I want a noble, intelligent Brahman boy seven yearsold, who shall give himself up of his own accord for your sake. Andwhen he is killed, his mother must hold his hands tightly to theground, and his father must hold his feet, and you must cut off hishead with your own sword. If you do this within seven days, then I willforgive the insult you have offered me. If not, I will kill you and allyour people. "

And the king was so frightened that he consented. Then the giantdisappeared. 

Then King Moon mounted his horse with his wife Lotus-bloom and rodeaway sad at heart, seeking for his soldiers. And he thought: "Alas! Iwas bewildered by hunting and by love, and I find myself ruined. Wherecan I find such a sacrifice for the giant? Well, I will go to my owncity now, and see what happens. "

So he continued his search, and found his soldiers and his cityBrilliant-peak. There his subjects were delighted because he had founda wife worthy of him, and they made a great feast. But it was a day ofdespondency and dreadful agony for the king. 

On the next day he told his counsellors the whole story. And onecounsellor named Wise said: "Your Majesty, do not despair. I will finda victim for the sacrifice. The world is a strange place. "

Thus the counsellor comforted the king, and made a statue of a boy outof gold. And he sent the statue about the land, with constant beatingof drums and this proclamation: "We want a noble Brahman boy sevenyears old who will offer himself as a sacrifice to a giant with thepermission of his parents. And when he is killed, his mother must holdhis hands, and his father must hold his feet. And as a reward, the kingwill give his parents a hundred villages and this statue of gold andgems. "

Now there was a Brahman boy on a farm, who was only seven years old, but wonderfully brave. He was of great beauty, and even in childhood hewas always thinking about others. He said to the heralds: "Gentlemen, Iwill give you my body. Wait a moment. I will hurry back after tellingmy parents. "

So they told the boy to go. And he went into the house, bowed beforehis parents, and said: "Mother! Father! I am going to give thiswretched body of mine in order to win lasting happiness. Pray permitme. And I will take the king's gift, this statue of myself made of goldand gems, and give it to you together with the hundred villages. Thus Iwill pay my debt to you, and do some real good. And you will never bepoor again, and will have plenty more sons. "

But his parents immediately said: "Son, what are you saying? Have youthe rheumatism? Or are you possessed by a devil? If not, why do youtalk nonsense? Who would sacrifice his child for money? And what childwould give his body?"

But the boy said: "I am not mad. Listen. My words are full of sense. The body is the seat of unnameable impurities, it is loathsome and fullof pain. It perishes in no long time at best. If some good can be donewith the worthless thing, that is a great advantage in this weary life, so wise men say. And what good is there except helping others? Ifanyone can serve his parents so easily, then how lightly should thebody be esteemed!"

Thus the boy, with his bold words and his firm purpose, persuaded hisgrieving parents. And he went and got from the king's men the goldenstatue and the hundred villages, and gave them to his parents. 

So the boy with his parents followed the king's men to the cityBrilliant-peak. And the king looked upon the brave boy as a magic jewelfor his own preservation, and rejoiced greatly. He adorned the boy withgarlands and perfumes, put him on an elephant, and took him with hisparents to the home of the giant. 

There the priest traced a magic circle beside the tree, and reverentlylit the holy fire. Then the horrible giant Flame-face appeared, mumbling words of his own. He staggered, for he was drunk with blood, and snorted and yawned. His eyes flashed fire and his shadow made thewhole world dark. 

And the king said respectfully: "Great being, here is the humansacrifice you asked for, and this is the seventh day since I promisedit. Be merciful. Accept this sacrifice. "

And the giant licked his chops, and looked the boy over, who was to bethe sacrifice. Then the noble boy thought: "I have done some good withthis body of mine. May I never rest in heaven or in eternal salvation, but may I have many lives in which to do some good with my body. " Andthe air was filled with the chariots of gods who rained down flowers. 

Then the boy was laid before the giant. His mother held his hands, andhis father held his feet. When the king drew his sword and was ready tostrike, the boy laughed so heartily that all of them, even the giant, forgot what they were doing, looked at the boy's face, and bowed lowbefore him. 

When the goblin had told this strange story, he asked the king: "OKing, why did the boy laugh at the moment of death? I have a greatcuriosity about this point. If you know and will not tell, then yourhead will fly into a hundred pieces. "

And the king said: "Listen. I will tell you why the boy laughed. Whendanger comes to any weak creature, he cries for life to his mother andfather. If they are not there, he begs protection from the king, whomheaven made his protector. Failing the king, he cries to a god. Someone of these should be his protector. But in the case of this boyeverything was contrary. His parents held his hands and feet becausethey wanted money. And the king was ready to kill him with his ownhand, to save his own life. And the giant, who is a kind of a god, hadcome there especially to eat him. So the boy thought: They areridiculously fooled about their bodies, which are fragile, worthless, the seat of pain and suffering. The bodies of the greatest gods perish. And such creatures as these imagine that their bodies will endure!' Sowhen he saw their strange madness, and felt that his own wishes werefulfilled, the Brahman boy laughed in astonishment and delight. "

Then the goblin slipped from the king's shoulder and went back to hishome. And the king followed with determination. The heart of a good manis like the heart of the ocean. It cannot be shaken. 

NINETEENTH GOBLIN

_The Man, his Wife, and her Lover, who all died for Love. Which was themost foolish?_

Then the king went back under the sissoo tree, took the goblin on hisshoulder, and set out in haste. And as he walked along, the goblin onhis shoulder said: "O King, I will tell you a story about a great love. Listen. "

There is a city called Ujjain, which seems like a divine city made bythe Creator for the pious who have fallen from heaven. In this citythere was a famous king named Lotus-belly. He delighted the good, anddefeated the king of the demons. 

While he was king, a merchant named Fortune, richer than the god ofwealth, lived in the city. He had one daughter named Love-cluster, whoseemed the model from whom the Creator had made the nymphs of heaven. This merchant gave his daughter to a merchant named Jewel-guard fromCopper City. 

As he was a tender father and had no other children, the merchantstayed with his daughter Love-cluster and her husband. Now Love-clustercame to hate Jewel-guard as a sick man hates a pungent, bitingmedicine. But the beautiful woman was dearer than life to her husband, dear as long-fathered wealth to a miser. 

One day Jewel-guard started for Copper City to pay a loving visit tohis parents. Then the hot summer came, and the roads were blocked fortravellers by the sharp arrows of the sun. The winds blew soft with thefragrance of jasmine and trumpet-flower, like sighs from the mouths ofmountains separated from the springtime. And wind-swept dust-cloudsflew to the sky like messengers from the burning earth begging forclouds. And the feverish days moved slowly like wayfarers who cling tothe shade of trees. And the nights clad in pale yellow moonlight becamevery feeble without the invigorating embrace of winter. 

At this time Love-cluster, anointed with cooling sandal, and clad inthin garments stood at her lattice-window. And she saw a handsome youthwith a friend whom he trusted. He seemed the god of love born anew andseeking his bride. He was the son of the king's priest, and his namewas Lotus-lake. 

And when Lotus-lake saw the lovely girl, he expanded with delight aslotuses in a lake expand at the sight of the moon. When the two youngpeople saw each other, their hearts embraced each other at the biddingof Love, their teacher. 

So Lotus-lake was smitten with love, and was led home with difficultyby his friend. And Love-cluster was equally maddened by love. First shelearned from her friend his name and home, then slowly withdrew to herroom. There she thought of him and became feverish with love, simplytossing on her couch, seeing nothing and hearing nothing. 

After two or three days spent in this way, she felt bashful andfearful, pale and thin from the separation, and hopeless of union withher lover. So, as if drawn on by the moonbeam which shone through herwindow, she went out at night when her people were asleep, determinedto die. And she came to a pool under a tree in her garden. 

There stood a family image of the goddess Gauri, set up by her father. She drew near to this image, bowed before the goddess, praised her, andsaid: "O Goddess, since I could not have Lotus-lake as my husband inthis life, may he be my husband in some other life!" And she made anoose of her garment, and tied it to the ashoka tree before the goddess. 

At that moment her trusty friend awoke, and not finding her in theroom, hunted about and came luckily into the garden. There she saw thegirl fastening the noose about her neck, and she cried, "No, no!" Andrunning up, she cut the noose. 

When Love-cluster saw that it was her own friend who had run up andtaken the noose away, she fell to the ground in great agony. But herfriend comforted her and asked the reason of her sorrow. Then she aroseand said: "Jasmine, my friend, I cannot be united with him I love. I amdependent on my father and other people. Death is the happiest thingfor me. "

And as she spoke, she was terribly scorched by the fiery darts of love, and determined to feel no more hope, and fainted. And her friendJasmine lamented: "Alas! Love is a hard master. It has reduced her tothis condition. " But she gradually brought her back to life with coolwater and fans and things. She made an easy bed of lotus-leaves. Sheput pearls cool as snow on her heart. 

Then Love-cluster came to herself and slowly said to her weepingfriend: "My dear, the fire within me cannot be quenched by such thingsas pearls. If you want to save my life, be clever enough to bring mylover to me. "

And the loving Jasmine said: "My dear, the night is almost over. In themorning I will bring your lover here to meet you. Be brave and go nowto your room. "

Love-cluster was contented. She took the pearls from her neck and gavethem to her friend as a present. And she said: "Let us go now. Then inthe morning you must keep your promise. " So she went to her room. 

In the morning Jasmine crept out without being seen to hunt for thehouse of Lotus-lake. When she got there, she found Lotus-lake under atree in the garden. He was lying on a couch of lotus-leaves moistenedwith sandal, and the friend who knew his secret was fanning him withplantain-leaf fans, for he was tortured by the flames of love. AndJasmine hid, to find out whether this was lovesickness for her friendor not. 

Then the friend said to Lotus-lake: "My friend, comfort your heart byglancing a moment at this charming garden. Do not be so troubled. "

But he said to his friend: "My heart has been stolen by Love-cluster. It is no longer in my body. How can I comfort it? Love has made anempty quiver of me. So invent some plan by which I may meet the thiefof my heart. "

Then Jasmine came out joyfully and without fear and showed herself. Andshe said: "Sir, Love-cluster has sent me to you, and I am the bearer ofa message to you. Is it good manners to enter the heart of an innocentgirl by force, steal her thoughts, and run away? It is strange, but thesweet girl is ready to give her person and her life to you, hercharmer. For day and night she heaves sighs hot as the smoke from thefire of love that burns in her heart. And teardrops carry her rougeaway and fall, like bees longing for the honey of her lotus-face. So, if you wish it, I will tell you what is good for both of you. "

And Lotus-lake said: "My good girl, the words which tell me that mylove is lonely and longing, frighten me and comfort me. You are ouronly refuge. Devise a plan. "

And Jasmine answered: "This very night I will bring Love-clustersecretly to the garden. You must be outside. Then I will cleverly letyou in, and so you two will be united. " Thus Jasmine delighted theBrahman's son, and went away successful to please Love-cluster with thenews. 

Then the sun and the daylight fled away, pursuing the twilight. And theEast adorned her face with the moon. And the white night-bloominglotuses laughed, their faces expanding at the thought of the glory thatwas coming to them. At that hour the lover Lotus-lake came secretly, adorned and filled with longing, to the garden-gate of his beloved. AndJasmine led Love-cluster secretly into the garden, for she had livedthrough the day somehow. 

Then Jasmine made her sit down under the mango trees, while she wentand let Lotus-lake in. So he entered and looked upon Love-cluster asthe traveller looks upon the shade of trees with thick foliage. And ashe drew near, she saw him and ran to him, for love took away hermodesty, and she fell on his neck. "Where would you go? I have caughtyou, thief of my heart!" she cried. Then excessive joy stopped herbreathing and she died. She fell on the ground like a vine broken bythe wind. Strange are the mysterious ways of Love. 

When Lotus-lake saw that terrible fall, he cried: "Oh, what does itmean?" And he fainted and fell down. Presently he came to himself, andtook his darling on his lap. He embraced her and kissed her and weptterribly. He was so borne down by the terrible burden of grief that hisown heart broke. And when they were both dead, the night seemed to dieaway in shame and fear. 

In the morning the relatives heard the story from the gardeners, andcame there filled with timidity and wonder and grief and madness. Theydid not know what to do, but stood a long time with downcast eyes. Unfaithful women disgrace a family. 

Presently the husband Jewel-guard came back from his father's house inCopper City, filled with love for Love-cluster. When he came to hisfather-in-law's house and saw the business, he was blinded by tears andwent thoughtfully into the garden. There he saw his wife dead inanother man's arms, and his body was scorched by flames of grief, andhe died immediately. 

Then the whole household shouted and screamed so that all the citizensheard the story and came there. The demi-gods themselves were filledwith pity and prayed to the goddess Gauri whose image had been set upthere before by Love-cluster's father: "Oh, Mother, the merchant whoset up this statue was always devoted to you. Show mercy to him in hisaffliction. "

And the gracious goddess heard their prayer. She said: "All three shalllive again, and shall forget their love. " Then through her grace theyall arose like people waking from sleep. They were alive, and theirlove was gone. While all the people there rejoiced at what hadhappened. Lotus-lake went home, bending his head in shame. And themerchant took his shamefaced daughter and her husband and went into thehouse and made a feast. 

When the goblin had told this story on the road in the night, he said:"O King, which was the most foolish among those who died for love? Ifyou know and do not tell, you must remember the curse I spoke ofbefore. "

Then the king answered: "O magic creature, Jewel-guard was the mostfoolish of them. When he saw that his wife had died for love of anotherman, he should have been angry. Instead, he was loving, and died ofgrief. "

Then the goblin slipped from the king's shoulder and quickly set outfor his home. And the king ran after him again, eager as before. 

TWENTIETH GOBLIN

_The Four Brothers who brought a Dead Lion to Life. Which is to blamewhen he kills them all?_

Then the king went back to the sissoo tree, took the goblin, put him onhis shoulder, and started for the place he wished to reach. And as hewalked along the road, the goblin began to talk again: "Bravo, King!You are a remarkable character. So I will tell you another story, and astrange one. Listen. "

There is a city called Flower-city. There lived a king namedEarth-boar. In his kingdom was a farm where a Brahman lived whose namewas Vishnuswami. His wife was named Swaha. And four sons were born tothem. 

After a time the father died, and the relatives took all the money. Sothe four brothers consulted together: "There is nothing for us to dohere. Suppose we go somewhere. " And after a long journey they came tothe house of their maternal grandfather in a village called Sacrifice. The grandfather was dead, but their uncles sheltered them, and theycontinued their studies. 

But they did not amount to much, so in time their uncles becamescornful in such matters as food and clothing. And they were troubled. 

Then the eldest took the others aside and said: "Brothers, no man cando anything anywhere on earth. Now I was wandering about discouraged, and I came to a wood. There I saw to-day a dead man whose limbs layrelaxed on the ground. And I wished for the same fate, and I thought:He is happy. He is free from the burden of woe. ' So I made up my mindto die, and hanged myself with a rope from a tree. I lostconsciousness, but before the breath of life was gone, the cord was cutand I fell to the ground. And when I came to myself, I saw acompassionate man who had happened by at that moment, and he wasfanning me with his garment. And he said to me: My friend, you are aneducated man. Tell me why you are so despondent. The righteous manfinds happiness, the unrighteous man finds unhappiness because of hisunrighteousness, and for no other reason. If you made up your mind tothis because of unhappiness, practice righteousness instead. Why seekthe pains of hell by suicide?' Thus the man comforted me and went away. And I gave up the idea of suicide and came here. You see I could noteven die when fate was unwilling. Now I shall burn my body at some holyplace, that I may not again feel the woes of poverty. "

Then the younger brothers said to him: "Sir, why is an intelligent mansad for lack of money? Do you not know that money is uncertain as anautumn cloud? No matter how carefully won and guarded, three things arefickle and bring sorrow at the last: evil friendships, a flirt, andmoney. The resolute and sensible man should by all means acquire thatvirtue which brings him Happiness a captive in bonds. "

So the eldest brother straightway plucked up heart, and said: "Whatvirtue is it which we should acquire?"

Then they all reflected, and took counsel together: "We will wanderover the earth, and each of us will learn some one science. " So theyappointed a place for meeting, and the four brothers started in fourdifferent directions. 

After a time they all gathered at the meeting-place, and asked oneanother what they had learned. The first said: "I have learned ascience by which I can take the skeleton of any animal whatever and putthe proper kind of flesh on it. "

The second said: "I have learned a science by which I can put on theflesh-covered skeleton the proper hair and skin. "

The third said: "My science is this. When the skin and the flesh andthe hair are there, I can put in the eyes and the other organs ofsense. "

The fourth said: "When the organs are there, I can give the creaturethe breath of life. "

So all four went into the forest to find a skeleton and test theirvarious sciences. As fate would have it, they found the skeleton of alion there. And they took that, not knowing the difference. 

The first fitted out the skeleton with appropriate flesh. The secondadded the skin and hair. The third provided all the organs. The fourthgave life to the thing, and it was a lion. The lion arose with terriblemassive mane, dreadful teeth in his mouth, and curving claws in hispaws. He arose and killed his four creators, then ran into the forest. 

Thus the Brahman youths all perished because they did wrong to make alion. Who could expect a good result from creating a bad-temperedcreature? Thus, if fate opposed, even a virtue that has been painfullyacquired does not profit, but rather injures. But the tree of manhood, with the water of intelligence poured into its watering-trench ofconduct about the vigorous root of fate, generally bears good fruit. 

When the goblin had told this story, he asked the king who was walkingthrough the night: "O King, remember the curse I mentioned, and tell mewhich of them was most to blame for creating the lion?"

And the king reflected in silence: "He wants to escape again. Verywell. I will catch him again. " So he said: "The one who gave life tothe lion, is the sinner. The others did not know what kind of an animalit was, and just showed their skill in creating flesh and skin and hairand organs. They were not to blame because they were ignorant. But theone who saw that it was a lion and gave it life just to exhibit hisskill, he was guilty of the murder of Brahmans. "

Then the goblin went home. And the king followed him again, and came tothe sissoo tree. 

TWENTY-FIRST GOBLIN

_The Old Hermit who exchanged his Body for that of the Dead Boy. Why didhe weep and dance?_

Then the king went back to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on hisshoulder in spite of all its writhings, and set out in silence. And thegoblin on his shoulder said: "O king of kings, you are terriblyobstinate about this impossible task. So to amuse the weary journey Iwill tell a story. Listen. "

In the Kalinga country was a city called Beautiful, where people livedas happily as in heaven. There ruled a famous king named Pradyumna. Andin a part of this city was a region set apart by the king, where manyBrahmans lived. Among them was a learned, wealthy, pious, hospitableBrahman named Sacrifice. 

In his old age a single son was born to him and his worthy wife. Theboy grew under the fostering care of his father, and showed signs ofexcellence. He was called Devasoma by his father, and his parents wereentirely devoted to him. 

In his sixteenth year the boy attracted everyone by his learning andmodesty. Then he suddenly fell ill of a fever and died. When his fatherand mother saw that he was really dead, they embraced the body and weptaloud. But their love for him would not permit them to burn the body. 

So the old relatives gathered, and said to the father: "Brahman, lifeis imaginary like a city in the sky. Do you not know this, you who knowthings above and things below? The kings who enjoyed themselves likegods upon the earth, they have gone one by one to cemeteries filledwith processions of weeping ghosts. Their bodies were burned by theflesh-devouring fire and eaten by jackals. No one could prevent it intheir case. How much less in the case of others? Therefore, as you area wise man, tell us what you mean by embracing this dead body?"

So at last the relatives persuaded him to let his son go, and they putthe body in a litter and brought it to the cemetery with weeping andwailing. 

At that time a hermit was fulfilling a hard vow, and was living in ahut in the cemetery. He was very thin because of his age and his hardlife. His veins stuck out like cords to bind him, as if afraid that hewould break in pieces. His hair was tawny like the lightning. 

This hermit heard the wailing of the people, and turned to his pupilwho begged food for him. Now this pupil was proud and arrogant. And thehermit said: "My boy, what is this wailing we hear? Go outside and findout, then return and tell me why this unheard-of commotion is takingplace. "

But the pupil said: "I will not go. Go yourself. My hour for begging ispassing by. "

Then the teacher said: "Fool! Glutton! What do you mean by your hourfor begging? Only one half of the first watch of the day is gone. "

Then the bad pupil became angry and said: "Decrepit old man! I am notyour pupil. And you are not my teacher. I am going away. Do yourbegging yourself. " And he angrily threw down his staff and bowl beforethe old man, and got up, and went away. 

Then the hermit laughed. He left his hut and went to the place wherethe dead Brahman boy had been brought to be burned. He saw how thepeople mourned over such youthful freshness dead, and felt his own ageand weakness. So he made up his mind to exchange his body for the otherby magic. 

He went aside and wept at the top of his voice. Then he danced with allthe proper gestures. 

After that, full of the longing to enjoy the happiness of youth, heleft his own withered body by magic and entered the body of the Brahmanyouth. So the Brahman youth came to life on the funeral pyre and stoodup. And a cry of joy arose from all the relatives: "See! The boy isalive! He is alive!"

Then the magician in the body of the Brahman boy said to the relatives:"I went to the other world, and Shiva gave me life and directed me toperform a great vow. So now I am going off to perform the vow. If I donot, my life will not last. Do you then go home, and I will come later. "

So he spoke to those gathered there, having made up his mind what todo, and sent them home full of joy and grief. He went himself and threwhis old body into a pit, and then went off, a young man. 

When the goblin had told this story, he said to King Triple-victory, who was walking through the night: "O King, when the magician enteredanother person's body, why did he weep before doing it, or why did hedance? I have a great curiosity about this point. "

And the king was afraid of the curse, so he broke silence and said:"Listen, goblin. He thought: I am leaving to-day this body with whichI won magic powers, the body which my parents petted when I was achild. ' So first he wept from grief, and from love of his body which hefound it hard to leave. Then he thought: With a new body I can learnmore magic. ' So he danced from joy at getting youth. "

When the goblin heard this answer, he returned quickly to the sissootree. And the king pursued him, undismayed. 

TWENTY-SECOND GOBLIN

_The Father and Son who married Daughter and Mother. What relation weretheir children?_

The king paid no attention to the terrible witch of night, clad inblack darkness, with the funeral piles as flaming eyes. He bravely wentthrough the dreadful cemetery to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on hisshoulder, and started as before. And as he walked along, the goblinsaid to him: "O King, I am very tired with these comings and goings, but you do not seem to be. So I will tell you my Great Puzzle. Listen. "

Long ago there was a king named Virtue in the southern country. He wasthe best of righteous men, and was born in a great family. His wifecame from the Malwa country, and her name was Moonlight. And they hadone daughter, whom they named Beauty. 

When this daughter was grown up, the relatives conspired to wreck thekingdom and drive King Virtue out. But he escaped by night, took agreat many jewels, and fled from his kingdom with his beautiful wifeand his daughter. He started for his father-in-law's house in Malwa, and came with his wife and daughter to the Vindhya forest. There theyspent a weary night. 

In the morning the blessed sun arose in the east, stretching out hisrays like hands to warn the king not to go into the forest whererobbers lived. The king went on foot with his trembling daughter andhis wife, and their feet were wounded by the thorny grass. So they cameto a fortified village. It was like the city of Death; for there wereno righteous people there, and it was filled with robber-men who killedand robbed other people. 

As the king drew near with his fine garments and his gems, many robberssaw him from a distance, and ran out armed to rob him. When the kingsaw them coming, he said to his wife and daughter: "These are wild men. They must not touch you. Go into the thick woods. " So the queen withher daughter Beauty fled in fear into the middle of the forest. 

But the brave king took his sword and shield and killed many of thewild men as they charged down, raining arrows on him. Then their leadergave an order, and all the robbers fell on the king at once, woundedevery limb in his body, and killed him; for he was all alone. So therobbers took the jewels and went away. 

Now the queen had hidden in a thicket, and had seen her husband killed. Then she fled a long distance in fear and came with her daughter intoanother thick wood. The rays of the midday sun were so fierce thattravellers had to sit in the shade. So Queen Moonlight and PrincessBeauty sat down under an ashoka tree near a lotus-pond in terribleweariness and fear and grief. 

Now a gentleman named Fierce-lion who lived near came on horseback withhis son into that wood to hunt. The son's name was Strong-lion. And thefather saw the footprints of the queen and the princess, and he said tohis son: "My son, these footprints are clean-cut and ladylike. Let usfollow them. And if we find two women, you shall marry one of them, whichever you choose. "

And the son Strong-lion said: "Father, the one who has the little feetin this line of footprints, seems to be the wife for me. The one withthe bigger feet must be older. She is the wife for you. "

But Fierce-lion said: "My son, what do you mean? Your mother went toheaven before your eyes. When so good a wife is gone, how could I thinkof another?"

But his son said: "Not so, Father. A householder's house is an emptyplace without a wife. Besides, you have surely heard what the poet says:

 What fool would go into a house? Tis a prisoner's abode, Unless a buxom wife is there, Looking down the road. '

So, Father, I beg you on my life to marry the second one, whom I havechosen for you. "

Then Fierce-lion said "Very well, " and went on slowly with his son, following the footprints. And when he came to the pond, he saw QueenMoonlight, radiant with beauty and charm. And with his son he eagerlyapproached her. But when she saw him, she rose in terror, fearing thathe was a robber. 

But her sensible daughter said: "There is no reason to fear. These twomen are not robbers. They are two well-dressed gentlemen, who probablycame here to hunt. " Still the queen swung in doubt. 

Then Fierce-lion dismounted and stood before her. And he said:"Beautiful lady, do not be frightened. We came here to hunt. Pluck upheart and tell me without fear who you are. Why have you come into thislonely wood? For your appearance is that of ladies who wear gems andsit on pleasant balconies. And why should feet fit to saunter in acourt, press this thorny ground? It is a strange sight. For thewind-blown dust settles on your faces and robs them of beauty. It hurtsus to see the fierce rays of the sun fall upon such figures. Tell usyour story. For our hearts are sadly grieved to see you in such aplight. And we cannot see how you could live in a forest filled withwild beasts. "

Then the queen sighed, and between shame and grief she stammered outher story. And Fierce-lion saw that she had no husband to care for her. So he comforted her and soothed her with tender words, and took care ofher and her daughter. His son helped the two ladies on horseback andled them to his own city, rich as the city of the god of wealth. Andthe queen seemed to be in another life. She was helpless and widowedand miserable. So she consented. What could she do, poor woman?

Then, because the queen had smaller feet, the son Strong-lion marriedQueen Moonlight. And Fierce-lion, the father, married her daughter, theprincess Beauty, because of the bigness of her feet. Who would break apromise that had been made solemnly?

Thus, because of their inconsistent feet, the daughter became the wifeof the father and the mother-in-law of her own mother. And the motherbecame the wife of the son and the daughter-in-law of her own daughter. And as time passed, sons and daughters were born to each pair. 

When the goblin had told this story, he asked the king: "O King, whenchildren were born to the father and daughter, and other children tothe son and mother, what relation were those children to one another?If you know and do not tell, then remember the curse I spoke of before?"

When the king heard the goblin's question, he turned the thing this wayand that, but could not say a word. So he went on in silence. And whenthe goblin saw that he could not answer the question, he laughed in hisheart and thought: "This king cannot give an answer to my Great Puzzle. So he just walks on in silence. And he cannot deceive me because of thepower of the curse. Well, I am pleased with his wonderful character. SoI will cheat that rogue of a monk, and give the magic power he isstriving after to this king. "

So the goblin said aloud: "O King, you are weary with your comings andgoings in this dreadful cemetery in the black night, yet you seemhappy, and never hesitate at all. I am astonished and pleased at yourperseverance. So now you may take the dead body and go ahead. I willleave the body. And I will tell you something that will do you good, and you must do it. The monk for whom you are carrying this body, is arogue. He will call upon me and worship me, and he will try to kill youas a sacrifice. He will say: Lie flat on the ground in an attitude ofreverence. ' O King, you must say to that rascal: I do not know thisattitude of reverence. Show me first, and then I will do likewise. 'Then when he lies on the ground to show you the attitude of reverence, cut off his head with your sword. Then you will get the kingship overthe fairies which he is trying to get. Otherwise, the monk will killyou and get the magic power. That is why I have delayed you so long. Now go ahead, and win magic power. "

So the goblin left the body on the king's shoulder and went away. Andthe king reflected how the monk Patience was planning to hurt him. Hetook the body and joyfully went to the fig-tree. 

CONCLUSION

So King Triple-victory came to the monk Patience with the body on hisshoulder. And he saw the monk along in the dark night, sitting underthe cemetery tree and looking down the road. He had made a magic circlewith yellow powdered bones in a spot smeared with blood. In it he hadput a jug filled with blood and lamps with magic oil. He had kindled afire and brought together the things he needed for worship. 

The monk rose to greet the king who came carrying the body, and hesaid: "O King, you have done me a great favour, and a hard one. This isa strange business and a strange time and place for such as you. Theysay truly that you are the best of kings, for you serve others withoutthinking of yourself. This is the very thing that makes the greatnessof a great man, when he does not give a thing up, though it costs hisvery life. "

So the monk felt sure the he was quite successful, and he took the bodyfrom the king's shoulder. He bathed it and put garlands on it, and setit in the middle of the circle. Then he smeared his own body withashes, put on a cord made of human hair, wrapped himself in dead man'sclothes, and stood a moment, deep in thought. And the goblin wasattracted by his thought into the body, and the monk worshipped him. 

First he offered liquor in a skull, then he gave him human teethcarefully cleaned, and human eyes and flesh. So he completed hisworship, then he said to the king: "O King, fall flat on the groundbefore this master magician in an attitude of reverence, so that he maygive you what you want. "

And the king remembered the words of the goblin. He said to the monk:"Holy sir, I do not know that attitude of reverence. Do you show mefirst, and afterwards I will do it in the same way. "

And when the monk fell on the ground to show the attitude of reverence, the king cut off his head with a sword, and cut out his heart and splitit open. And he gave the head and the heart to the goblin. 

Then all the little gods were delighted and cried: "Well done!" And thegoblin was pleased and spoke to the king from the body he was livingin: "O King, this monk was trying to become king of the fairies. Butyou shall be that when you have been king of the whole world. "

And the king answered the goblin: "O magic creature, if you are pleasedwith me, I have nothing more to wish for. Yet I ask you to make me onepromise, that these twenty-two different, charming puzzle-stories shallbe known all over the world and be received with honour. "

And the goblin answered: "O King, so be it. And I will tell yousomething more. Listen. When anyone tells or hears with proper respecteven a part of these puzzle-stories, he shall be immediately free fromsin. And wherever these stories are told, elves and giants and witchesand goblins and imps shall have no power. "

Then the goblin left the dead body by magic, and went where he wantedto. Then Shiva appeared there with all the little gods, and he was wellpleased. When the king bowed before him, he said: "My son, you did wellto kill this sham monk who tried by force to become king of thefairies. Therefore you shall establish the whole earth, and then becomeking of the fairies yourself. And when you have long enjoyed thedelights of heaven and at last give them up of your own accord, thenyou shall be united with me. So receive from me this sword calledInvincible. While you have it, everything you say will come true. "

So Shiva gave him the magic sword, received his flowery words ofworship, and vanished with the gods.